Tag: IDPs

Iraqi Christian couple despair at sight of house IS destroyed

February 14, 2017 Iraq IDPs, Islamic State, Karamles, Mosul, Nineveh Plains, Tel Skuf

Almas and her husband, Hathem, stand inside the remains of their house, destroyed by IS, Jan 2017.World Watch Monitor Hathem and Almas are hoping to be among the first people to return to Karamles, a now-deserted town in the Nineveh Plains of northern Iraq. “This is our town, where . . . Read More

Pastor killed, 2 churches destroyed in renewed violence in Central African Republic

February 13, 2017 Central African Republic Bambari, Bangui, Bocaranga, IDPs, PK5, Seleka

Hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs), shaken by the renewed violence, have returned to the refugee camp at Bangui M’Poko Airport, where they sought refuge when the violence first erupted in 2013. A flare-up of violence in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), on 7 February left . . . Read More

Devastated northern Iraq needs ‘new Marshall Plan’ for reconstruction

February 3, 2017 Iraq Bashar Warda, Erbil, IDPs, Islamic State, Kurds, Middle East, Refugees

The liberated town of Bartella in the Nineveh Plains, 21km east of Mosul, is today a picture of destruction.Open Doors The Archbishop of Erbil in northern Iraq, who is overseeing the care of thousands of displaced Christians who fled Islamic State jihadists, has announced ambitious plans for the Church . . . Read More

Cleaning up towns freed from IS ‘erases evidence of their crimes’

February 2, 2017 Iraq IDPs, Islamic State, Kurds, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh, Refugees

Dr. Sarah Ahmed at the cathedral in Qaraqosh, where IS appeared to have used mannequins looted from a local tailor’s to practise shooting.FRRME Efforts to clear villages liberated from Islamic State are undermining the possibility of recording the atrocities to people and heritage committed there, according to a leading . . . Read More

Christians ‘excluded’ from Iraq’s reconstruction plans

January 27, 2017 Iraq IDPs, Islamic State, Mosul, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh, Refugees

Christians are being excluded from the reconstruction plans for northern Iraq, further eroding the likelihood of their return once Islamic State has been militarily defeated there, an alliance of UK-based charities has warned. Iraqi Christians firmly believe that Iraq is their spiritual homeland; their presence dates back at least to . . . Read More

Devastation of liberated Iraqi Christian towns makes return home seem further away than ever

December 15, 2016 Iraq Bartella, Erbil, IDPs, Islamic State, Karamles, Kurds, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh, Refugees

Now the smoke has gone from the Nineveh Plain, it is clear that Islamic State fighters dealt one final, vicious blow to the Christian population before surrendering its occupied towns: by systematically setting fire to their homes, thousands have become practically uninhabitable. Suddenly, for many Christians, the prospect of returning . . . Read More

Boko Haram’s survivors now facing HIV/AIDS

December 2, 2016 Nigeria Boko Haram, Borno, Gwoza, IDPs, Nigeria

At least 5,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in 27 camps in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno State have HIV/AIDS, a local official has revealed. Speaking to the media on Thursday (1 Dec.), Hassan Mustapha, the Coordinator on HIV/AIDS in Borno, said most of the patients were women who were rescued from captivity in . . . Read More

Donors pledge $2.2bn to help Central African Republic recover

November 30, 2016 Central African Republic African Union, Anti-balaka, Bangui, Bria, Catherine Samba-Panza, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, IDPs, Kaga Bandoro, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, Oumar Kobine Layama, Refugees, Seleka

Oxfam says half the 4.8 million population of the Central African Republic needs humanitarian assistance. Open Doors International The President of the Evangelical Alliance in the Central African Republic has praised the international community’s pledge of US$2.2 billion to help reconstruct a county ravaged by three years of civil war. Around . . . Read More

‘We must distinguish between Islam and terrorism’

November 28, 2016 Global News -- No Particular Country Amman, Boko Haram, Europe, Fulani herdsmen, Hungary, IDPs, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Jacques Hamel, Jan Figel, Middle East, Nigeria, Nineveh Plains, Qaraqosh, Refugees, Religious freedom

Keeping the distinction between Islam and terrorism clear could prevent an ultimate ‘Clash of Civilisations’, an EU diplomat says. “All this hatred and bloodshed is a misuse of religion,” said Ján Figeľ, the European Commission’s first Special Envoy for the promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU. . . . Read More

Victims of Boko Haram, Fulani violence to receive trauma counselling

November 25, 2016 Nigeria Adamawa, Boko Haram, Chibok girls, Fulani herdsmen, IDPs, Plateau, Refugees, Trauma, Yola

A trauma care centre is being constructed in Nigeria to support Christians who have suffered religiously motivated violence or abuse at the hands of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen. The centre is being built by Open Doors International, a charity which supports Christians under pressure for their faith. In April, . . . Read More

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