Some Iraqi Christians tell the Danish European Mission's partner in Iraq that they don't believe they have any chance of surviving in their homeland. Others are still hopeful and do not want to leave their homeland.
Emergency aid for Iraq's 'hell'
In the Kurdish-controlled area in Northern Iraq as well as near Baghdad, the Danish European Mission's partner is active and supports war-traumatized refugee families. In Baghdad alone, our partner regularly supports 4000 destitute people.
Refugees are provided with food rations, medicine and, if possible, shelter.
Prophet Jonah's tomb destroyed
The Mosul region (Nineveh Plain) is the home of Iraqi Christians. For almost 2000 years they have lived here. Now this homeland is under threat like never before.
Islamic State insurgents target minorities with extreme brutality and even destroy biblical cultural heritage, such as the tomb of the biblical prophet Jonah.
Convert, pay or die
Jihadi fighters give non-Sunni Muslims an ultimatum: Convert to Islam, pay taxes or die.
Therefore, the wave of refugees from Mosul is huge. Many people have had to leave their homes and have nothing with them in the Kurdish-controlled areas they flee to, including around Erbil. They are now living in large dormitories and shelters. The humanitarian situation is precarious.
Meanwhile, the jihadists are at the gates of Baghdad. Many Christians have already left the capital and fled to the Kurdish-controlled areas or to neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon. Others are still waiting and hoping. They don't want to leave their homeland. The safest escape route is by airplane. Escaping by car is very dangerous because IS checkpoints abound. Non-Sunni Muslims are unlikely to make it through such a checkpoint alive.
Iraqi Christians: "Send more help!"
Iraqi Christians are crying out to us in the Western world. They are asking that we step up relief efforts and stand with them in prayer.
Providing food and medicine to a refugee family for a month costs 550 DKK. Support now: Support