GBFan
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2013
- Messages
- 1,455
(CNSNews.com) – A humanitarian tragedy is looming in northwestern Iraq, where up to 25,000 children, mostly from the minority Yazidi community, are among those who fled ahead of advancing Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) jihadists and are now stranded without water or supplies in arid, mountainous terrain.
The U.N. Children’s Fund in Iraq said Tuesday at least 40 children were already reported to have died, “as a direct consequence of violence, displacement and dehydration over the past two days.”
Tens of thousands of people fled as ISIS seized control of the town and district of Sinjar west of Mosul at the weekend, pushing back Kurdish “peshmerga” forces who had been providing security there.
“Families who fled the area are in immediate need of urgent assistance, including up to 25,000 children who are now stranded in mountains surrounding Sinjar and are in dire need of humanitarian aid including drinking water and sanitation services,” said UNICEF’s Iraq director, Marzio Babille.
He appealed to “all those who have influence to immediately grant children and women free and safe access to areas of refuge and respect the special protection afforded to children under international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Earlier this summer, Sinjar’s normal population of around 35,000 swelled by an additional 50,000 people who had been displaced by the ISIS advance, fleeing the violence, fears of persecution, summary executions, and abductions at the hands of the jihadists.
ISIS’ capture of Sinjar and surrounding areas prompted an exodus of both the usual inhabitants and those already displaced people.
UNICEF says the Sinjar district has a population of at least 150,000 children, many of whom are now displaced.
“Children are particularly vulnerable, and are most affected by the continuing violence, displacement and fighting in Iraq,” said Babille. “UNICEF repeats its urgent call for all children in need to be protected and immediately provided with life-saving assistance to prevent further loss of life.”
The U.N. Children’s Fund in Iraq said Tuesday at least 40 children were already reported to have died, “as a direct consequence of violence, displacement and dehydration over the past two days.”
Tens of thousands of people fled as ISIS seized control of the town and district of Sinjar west of Mosul at the weekend, pushing back Kurdish “peshmerga” forces who had been providing security there.
“Families who fled the area are in immediate need of urgent assistance, including up to 25,000 children who are now stranded in mountains surrounding Sinjar and are in dire need of humanitarian aid including drinking water and sanitation services,” said UNICEF’s Iraq director, Marzio Babille.
He appealed to “all those who have influence to immediately grant children and women free and safe access to areas of refuge and respect the special protection afforded to children under international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Earlier this summer, Sinjar’s normal population of around 35,000 swelled by an additional 50,000 people who had been displaced by the ISIS advance, fleeing the violence, fears of persecution, summary executions, and abductions at the hands of the jihadists.
ISIS’ capture of Sinjar and surrounding areas prompted an exodus of both the usual inhabitants and those already displaced people.
UNICEF says the Sinjar district has a population of at least 150,000 children, many of whom are now displaced.
“Children are particularly vulnerable, and are most affected by the continuing violence, displacement and fighting in Iraq,” said Babille. “UNICEF repeats its urgent call for all children in need to be protected and immediately provided with life-saving assistance to prevent further loss of life.”
