I was just in Northern Iraq where I met Samina and Salma. One night ISIS came to their village and raped their mother in front of them and forced her to become one of their sex slaves.
The cruel fighters killed the girls' father, their grandfather and their uncle on the same night. Simply because they are Yazidis, whom the Islamic State considers infidels, like Christians.
All of the girls' relatives are either missing, dead or scattered in other refugee camps. No one knows where they are.
Samina and Salma, aged 10 and 9, currently live in the mountains, more than 1000 meters above sea level, without electricity and with little water. The girls live there along with 650 refugee families with a Yazidi background, amounting to around 3000 people.
Image: Vulnerable girls like Salma receive relief and encouragement from the relief team.
Each family has its own tragic story. They are heavily traumatized and just trying to survive. The two girls feel abandoned and alone.
The Christian relief team we support is the only one helping the many refugees. Every two weeks the team brings food, drinking water, clothing and everything the 650 families need to survive, especially now that the cold winter is coming.
In addition to distributing relief aid, our Christian relief team also tries to take care of the emotional and spiritual needs of the refugees by providing them with pastoral care. One of our female team leaders, Meriam, asked the two orphan girls what she could do for them. The older girl, Samina, replied: "Let me come with you. Then you can be my mom - you're just like her!" The youngest girl, Salma, just asked for a nice dress and a doll.
Meriam went out and bought two beautiful dresses, sweets and toys for the girls to encourage them. She and the team often visit the girls, showing them love and encouraging them.
Unfortunately, there are many others like Samina and Salma, refugee children who desperately need a lot of care, hope and love.
You and I can help the Iraqi church provide care and relief to Christians, Yazidis and other minorities in dire need.
We can help the church to be a light in the darkness. By doing good to the most vulnerable, the church can be a testimony of the gospel and God's love.
- On average, it costs around 150 DKK to provide a refugee family with water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items and medicine for a week.
- On average, it costs around DKK 652 to provide a refugee family with water, food, kitchenware, hygiene items and medicine for a month.
- On average, it costs around 1086 DKK to ensure a refugee family has warm clothes, shoes, mattresses, blankets and fuel this winter.
Thank you for bringing hope and a helping hand to those in need in Iraq.
Support
You can support via MobilePay on 2210 4584
SMS: GIVHÅB100 to 1241to support with 100 kr.