#prayeralert: A Half Million Displaced Iraqis Flee TerrorLaura Gish - 19 Nov 2014
#prayeralert: A Half Million Displaced Iraqis Flee Terror
Naziheen. An Arabic word describing people who have been displaced. More than 543,000 naziheen from Iraq have traveled hundreds of miles to flee from the hand of radical extremists — and they’ve flooded into neighbouring countries.
Those who have managed to settle in a place like Dohuk, a northern Iraqi Kurdish city, are living under trees and bridges, sleeping in churchyards, unfinished buildings, parks, and schools. Nearly 20,000 families are occupying the city’s elementary schools, and another 50,000 children are living in classrooms. There is not enough food, blankets, toilets — not enough of anything — to accommodate the masses. The situation is critical and its effects far reaching. For instance, local Kurdish students haven’t even been able to begin their school semester.
“Motels and hotels are filling up, as well,” one hotel owner said. “The naziheen come with enough money for the first month’s rent; when they run out, they beg to stay.”
Fears are rising as winter months approach. Money, blankets, food and supplies from Baghdad and local NGOs can’t come quickly enough. Kurdish workers are donating electricity, manpower, services, and their own resources without any pay. There is so much need… and so little time.
Please pray for these refugees
- Please be in prayer for those who have fled the hand of radical militants. Pray for refugee camps to be built soon.
- Pray for the children without families. Plead that they would be protected, guarded and comforted.
- Pray that the need of supplies would be met. May the cry of these needs be heard across the seas. Pray for hearts of individuals to be moved to respond quickly.
- Pray for volunteers to help in the cities and areas where many refugees are fleeing and camping. Pray that workers would be sent to these areas to meet the needs. Pray that hearts would look to the Saviour for help in this time of.
All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'Iraq: Urban Extents' by SEDACMaps and 'Iraqi Yazidi refugees in Newroz camp receive help from International Rescue Committee' by DFID - UK Department for International Development