A YORK Salvation Army major is representing Britain in a vital project to bring aid to war-torn Iraq.
Major Paul Westlake, an officer at the Salvation Army Citadel, in Gillygate, is working with American troops to supply cooking fuel to the Iraqi people.
Based in Kuwait, Major Westlake has been helping the troop-based humanitarian organisation centre to co-ordinate the supply of vital gas.
Although medical and food aid is now pouring into the country, following the conclusion of the second Gulf War, the population needs gas to cook. Major Westlake, who will remain in the Gulf for another seven weeks, is the only British member of the Salvation Army to go into Iraq.
His wife, Major Liliane Westlake, said it was a great honour for Paul to be involved in the huge humanitarian operation.
She said: "It happened really fast. Paul is out there trying to organise vehicles to take the gas bottles into Iraq.
"This is an aid mission and it is very important that, as a church, we work together. The war is only just over and people are trying to get back to some kind of normality.
"I see Paul's work as very important. It is a great honour for him."
Major Westlake was selected for the humanitarian mission thanks to his experience working with the Salvation Army Red Shield organisation in Germany.
The Red Shield is closely associated with serving soldiers.
Updated: 09:58 Saturday, May 03, 2003
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