02:52Ashti refugee camp near Erbil is home to around 5,000 Christian families who have fled from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL). The camp’s resident’s spoke on Wednesday.
Residents of the camp, most of them from the Plain of Ninive, Qaraqosh and the surrounding villages, have been unable to return to their homes. One of the camp’s residents, Basma Danw Ishaq from Qaraqosh, said that “If it would be safe, we would come back. It is not safe, so we don't go back.”
Another resident, priest Salem Aleas Atalha, criticised the Iraqi government, saying that they are “oppressing this area” and that “everyone gives problems to Christians; Sunni, Shia and Shabak, they don't want us to live there. They don't help.”
Around 55,000 civilians had fled the majority-Christian town of Qaraqosh, 32 km (20 miles) from the embattled city of Mosul. The town was liberated approximately four months ago. However, so far the residents have been unable to return to their homes.
Iraq: ‘The Iraq government is criminal’ – Christian internally displaced people denounce govt.
Ashti refugee camp near Erbil is home to around 5,000 Christian families who have fled from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL). The camp’s resident’s spoke on Wednesday.
Residents of the camp, most of them from the Plain of Ninive, Qaraqosh and the surrounding villages, have been unable to return to their homes. One of the camp’s residents, Basma Danw Ishaq from Qaraqosh, said that “If it would be safe, we would come back. It is not safe, so we don't go back.”
Another resident, priest Salem Aleas Atalha, criticised the Iraqi government, saying that they are “oppressing this area” and that “everyone gives problems to Christians; Sunni, Shia and Shabak, they don't want us to live there. They don't help.”
Around 55,000 civilians had fled the majority-Christian town of Qaraqosh, 32 km (20 miles) from the embattled city of Mosul. The town was liberated approximately four months ago. However, so far the residents have been unable to return to their homes.
Ashti refugee camp near Erbil is home to around 5,000 Christian families who have fled from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL). The camp’s resident’s spoke on Wednesday.
Residents of the camp, most of them from the Plain of Ninive, Qaraqosh and the surrounding villages, have been unable to return to their homes. One of the camp’s residents, Basma Danw Ishaq from Qaraqosh, said that “If it would be safe, we would come back. It is not safe, so we don't go back.”
Another resident, priest Salem Aleas Atalha, criticised the Iraqi government, saying that they are “oppressing this area” and that “everyone gives problems to Christians; Sunni, Shia and Shabak, they don't want us to live there. They don't help.”
Around 55,000 civilians had fled the majority-Christian town of Qaraqosh, 32 km (20 miles) from the embattled city of Mosul. The town was liberated approximately four months ago. However, so far the residents have been unable to return to their homes.