In the Christian suburb of Erbil, capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Camp de Mar Elia is one of the many refugee camps in the area to accommodate the Iraqi Christians who have fled Islamic state group. They come mainly from Mosul and its environs.
To escape forced to Islam, the taxes imposed by the jihadists conquered populations, and even death conversions, these Christians have left everything behind. They fled and now survive here, far from home and denied.
Reduced to a miserable existence, they must now prepare for the winter, with the simple shelter, makeshift tents. They give us their despair and fears.
"It's a pain every moment. We can not sleep. Yesterday it rained. The sound of the rain sounded like stones falling on our tents. My son told me this morning that he wanted to return home, he wanted to go back today. I replied, "but how do you want to go back there. Have you dreamed of this? "He looked at me without saying anything. I do not know, maybe in his sleep, he dreamed that off again with us, "said Soham Yakub.
A tent for two families. Lack of space and infrastructure are almost non-existent. These are the Christian churches that provide, as they can supply food and water. They also offer, entertainment for children and spiritual support.
They thus make up for the lack of sufficient support from international institutions. Families themselves protest against the inaction of the international community and humanitarian organizations. They do not understand why so little money is spent to help them while considerable sums were released to fight against the Islamic state organization.
"Life is hard here, once it rained and we suffered a lot. There are no washing machines, no money, we have nothing. We ask all those watching from afar, without really worrying about our situation, to help us out of Iraq. As you see, in winter, water seeps into the tents, "said crying teenager named Asrar Walid.
"We left our homes in the region Qaraqosh. We are not alone. Everyone is gone. If we had been protected by international forces, we would not have left our homes and we would not have come to live here in these tents. But is there really an international aid? "Asks Fadia Salem.
Chaldean parish priest of Mar Eliya, Father Douglas al-Bazi, calls for more support these Christian refugees. And beyond, minorities persecuted in Iraq daily.
Father al-Bazi himself had been kidnapped in 2006 and released after nine days of captivity. The same year, he was wounded in two attacks against his church north of Baghdad by gunmen.
"When your story and your name will be deleted, we can really speak of genocide. Most of those who suffered in what happened in Mosul Yezidis are our brothers and Christian people. And I'm not surprised. If the Islamic state group kills those who belong to his own religion, then what about the way to treat people of other religions, not to mention those who are atheists, "said Father Douglas al-Bazi.
According to the French organization "Brotherhood in Iraq," since August, 120,000 Christians, Yazidis, Shabaks and Kakaïs, including 18,000 children fled to Erbil to escape the Islamic state group. Thanks to donations, the organization has distributed nearly 7,000 coats to refugees. Mid-October, "Brotherhood in Iraq" launched "Winter Nineveh" operation to buy and distribute these refugees winter outfits.
Mohammed Shaikhibrahim euronews:
"They have no role in political conflicts. They lived in safety in their homes and in peace. And in the end, they find themselves refugees in several countries. Actors despite themselves, the worst ethnic cleansing and migration which has ever been witnessed in the Middle East. "
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