Kurds, Christians, and Yazidis Under Attack by Turkey

Kurds, Christians, and Yazidis Under Attack by Turkey

Destruction and suffering from Turkey's ongoing attacks in Syria and Iraq

With ISIS continuing to retreat from territory in Iraq and Syria, Kurdish populations that were instrumental in the U.S.-led international efforts to fight ISIS are being bombed by Turkey, a NATO member. This violent conflict is being ordered by Turkish President Erdogan and the military operation is worsening the humanitarian crisis throughout the region.  

Mount Sinjar in Iraq and areas in northern Syria that include homelands of the Christian and Yazidi populations in the region, who have faced genocide by ISIS, are being further victimized and struggling to survive under brutal conditions.

In addition to the ongoing support effort for Yazidi refugees in Canada, OFWI is working with partners on the ground in Iraq and Syria to assess ongoing humanitarian needs and is preparing a relief mission.

Stay tuned for further updates.

U.S. law directs USAID to establish phychosocial support programs to benefit religious and ethnic minorities affected by ISIS

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a bill passed by Congress into law that directs USAID "to establish phychosocial support programs to benefit religious and ethnic minorities affected by ISIS, prioritizing trauma therapy and care for children and survivors of sexual slavery.” Hot off the heels of the New York Times story on the need for more support for Yazidi refugees resettling in Canada, this is great news from the U.S. Capitol.

With 3,200 women and girls enslaved by ISIS still unaccounted for, and thousands struggling to survive in refugee camps in Iraq, the most vulnerable refugees need our support. OFWI will continue our humanitarian relief and advocacy work to ensure victims of ISIS get the support they so desperately need to rebuild their lives. OFWI will be reaching out to U.S. partners in the coming weeks to offer our help to USAID implement this new directive and offer our experience in the field to help in any way we can.

Thank you to all of our supporters who wrote their representatives in Congress being a voice for the voiceless that helped make this possible.

The omnibus bill signed into: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1625

Pages 74-75 of this document detail the measures: https://www.congress.gov/115/crpt/hrpt253/CRPT-115hrpt253.pdf

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