Today, August 3rd 2024, marks ten years since ISIS began its campaign against the religious minority groups here. The summer of 2014 there was a rise of ISIS that brutally destroyed many lives, villages and towns across Syria and Iraq. ISIS has committed a genocide against humanity. These crimes were committed against different minority groups such as the Iraqi Yazidi and Syrian Yazidis, Shabak, Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Christian, and Turkmen communities.
Back in 2014, early in the morning of August 3rd, ISIS began its attack on Sinjar. There were tens of thousands who tried to escape with their children and the elderly. Many fled with just the clothes on their back leaving behind their belongings, animals and homes. There were hundreds captured by ISIS. ISIS divided them into groups and killed large numbers of the men in front of family members watching. Close to 200,000 Yazidis were able to escape to Mount Sinjar. ISIS surrounded them, leaving them stranded there for days with no food or water. Due to dehydration and malnutrition, there were yet more Yazidis who died. ISIS also abducted women and girls to sell into sex slavery, while young boys were taken to training camps of ISIS. Since the attack in August 2014, it is believed that 5,000 Yazidis have been killed. There are still mass graves being uncovered today. According to the Yazidi Rescue office, ISIS kidnapped 6,417 Yazidis. We have heard there are still more than 2,600 missing and know that there are close to three thousand that have been orphaned due to ISIS.
Even though a decade has gone by there are still 150,000 survivors living in IDP camps across Iraqi Kurdistan. We have seen hundreds from Camp Kabarto alone, making that move back to Sinjar to restart their lives there. We know that they will face many challenges as they try to rebuild their lives and community there. We pray that God would help the people with adjusting to their new lives and for His protection. Thousands continue to remain in the camps and have expressed fear of repeated violence if they return, along with there being a lack of schools, health facilities and electricity in Sinjar.
Christians, Shabak and Turkmen were also abducted and killed by ISIS. In June of 2014, Christians in Mosul were either killed, given the option to convert, pay a tax or leave. We have heard stories of the crimes committed against Christians there. In August 2014 ISIS took control of all the Assyrian towns that were in the Ninevah plains which caused a mass displacement. Houses and Churches were destroyed with many fleeing. We are not sure of the exact number of Christians taken and sold into sex slavery or how many are still missing today. Since 2003, the number of Christians has decreased from around 1.5 million to now around 250,000 people.
Steven and Jona Mirabella, founders of MFI (Mesopotamia Frontiers International) give their deep condolences to those that lost their loved ones during the genocide. We grieve the loss of loved ones and encourage those who survived to not lose hope for the return of those still missing. We continue to pray that those thousands of women, that are still missing would be returned home to their families. We pray for God to also protect each of these innocent children that have been orphaned due to ISIS, that they would be protected, cared for and loved. May hearts and lives be healed from the pain and trauma experienced and remain resilient. There is hope for tomorrow!
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11
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