All we want is to live in peace
On the 3rd of August, the Islamic State forces occupied the town of Bakshikra on the Nineveh Plain in Northern Iraq, home to an ancient Christian community of 3,000 people.
Just before the Islamic State forces arrived, the Christians managed to escape. First, they were told by the Kurdish Army that they could not enter Kurdistan, then they tried a different route, and finally managed to reach the town of Sersing outside of Dohuk in Kurdistan.
500 Christian families are now scattered all over the town, with 54 families (226 people) living in a church complex and 75 families in a nearby school.
The local church is doing their best to address the needs of the displaced, but the needs are great: There is an acute need of food, clean water and housing for the winter, and then education and solving the problems of the future of the displaced. Beside direct assistance, Mission East is building the capacity of the church to deal with these problems.
Kim Hartzner, MD, Managing Director
Read MoreJust before the Islamic State forces arrived, the Christians managed to escape. First, they were told by the Kurdish Army that they could not enter Kurdistan, then they tried a different route, and finally managed to reach the town of Sersing outside of Dohuk in Kurdistan.
500 Christian families are now scattered all over the town, with 54 families (226 people) living in a church complex and 75 families in a nearby school.
The local church is doing their best to address the needs of the displaced, but the needs are great: There is an acute need of food, clean water and housing for the winter, and then education and solving the problems of the future of the displaced. Beside direct assistance, Mission East is building the capacity of the church to deal with these problems.
Kim Hartzner, MD, Managing Director
