When the knock came on the door, thousands of minority Iraqis faced a bleak choice: escape and leave everything behind, or risk facing the brutality of the Islamic State (IS) militants.
IS rebels, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), have threatened, attacked and murdered those who do not conform to their religious ideals, including Yazidis, Christians and Shi’ite Muslims.
Last week, IS took over Qaraqosh, the largest Christian town in Iraq, warning Christians to leave, convert or die. What followed was a systematic beheading of children, while adults were crucified and women abducted, according to media and eyewitness reports.
Volunteers from the NGO Aid to the Church in Need, which also has a branch in Malta, arrived in Erbil last week to assess the situation of thousands of Christian refugees who have so far managed to escape the clutches of the IS.
Times of Malta spoke to Maria Lozano from Church in Need who described a desperate situation.
“People who are here have nothing. They have no papers, no phones and there is nothing they can do. They are just waiting. Many have lost loved ones along the way,” she said.
Ms Lozano said there was a large number of children and babies among the thousands seeking refuge. People were lying on the floors because they had nothing except for what was provided by the Church. Those who were sick were unable to get to hospital or receive the medication needed.
“It is a very quiet, desperate cry for help. Every individual here has a hard story to tell,” Ms Lozano said.
These people escaped the brutal executions inflicted on those who stayed behind, but they did not necessarily escape the pain of loss. Ms Lozano described a father’s heartbreak after losing his two children when a bomb fell close by – they were both under 10 years old.
“They had to leave to protect their families. They tell me they had to defend the honour of their women, young girls and their faith,” Ms Lozano said.
Before the US-led war on Iraq, Christians represented some five per cent of the population claiming some 1.5 million adherents.
Every individual here has a hard story to tell
As a result of that war their numbers plummeted to between 200,000 and 450,000 through abductions, torture, bombings, killings and forced conversion. IS rebels are now their major threat.
In a statement last Tuesday, the Vatican said IS had committed “and was continuing to commit unspeakable criminal acts”.
Christians were not the only ones targeted. IS rebels massacred at least 80 men from the Yazidi faith in a village and abducted women and children last Friday, reports say. The Yazidis are Kurds who have their own unique religion.
Their main location is around Mosul and they were displaced when IS took hold of the city in northern Iraq. IS rebels come from a sub-sect of Sunni Islam, the Salafi movement. Salafis are fundamentalists who see their movement as a return to the roots of Islam.
EU foreign ministers last Friday agreed Iraqi Kurds should be given weapons to fight the Islamic militants. Foreign Minister George Vella said the barbaric acts committed by IS militants had to be stopped if justice and peace should prevail.
The Malta office is coordinating fundraising to be able to help oppressed and persecuted people in Iraq, as well as in other countries. For more information call on 2148 7818 or e-mail info@acnmalta.org.