Ezidi Kurds, the most affected people who suffered all types of crimes by the Islamic State (IS) terrorists. After ISIS took control of Ninawa and other cities in Iraq. On the 3rd of August 2014, ISIS launched a coordinated and planned offensive on Shingal district and in the most brutal attack carried out by the ISIS terrorist group. ISIS systematically targeted the Ezidi population for their distinct religious identity.
Among the most heinous atrocities committed by the group were mass execution of civilians, abduction and enslavement of women and girls and in-discriminate killing of the Ezidi men. As a result, the Ezidi population has suffered the gravest atrocities committed by the terrorist group, have lost all their sources of subsistence and been displaced across the Kurdistan Region.
According to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ezidi Rescue Office among the estimated 550,000 Yezidis in Iraq, over 360,000 were displaced after the ISIS attack. A total of 1,293 Ezidis were massacred by the terror group during the first days of the attack on Shingal.
Additionally, 6,417 Ezidis (3,548 men; 2,869 women) were abducted by ISIS, from which 3,509 have so far been rescued and were able to escape.
A total of 2,908 Ezidi men, women, and children are still missing with efforts ongoing to find and rescue them.
The ISIS genocidal attack on the Ezidis has left 2,745 children orphaned. Many of the Ezidis whom were massacred by ISIS were buried in mass graves in and around Sinjar. The report said 80 mass graves have so far been discovered.
The crisis also resulted the in the migration of more than 100,000 Ezidis to the west including Europe, US, and Canada.
The sufferings of Ezidis still ongoing as many of them cannot go back to their areas of origin, mostly due to lack of basic services in their areas and presence of multiple militia groups that both have hindered the process of voluntary, safe and dignified return of the IDPs.
The destruction measured in human and material loss is of such a magnitude that millions of dollars will be needed for recovery, healing, reconstruction and development over many years to come. Shingal district is considered the most affected area as the district was systematically destroyed by ISIS. Further destruction was caused by the collateral damages as a result of the two years of fighting between the Peshmerga forces, coalition airstrikes and the ISIS terrorist groups. While comprehensive across all sectors, there are some variations in the type and scale of destruction in different sectors; up to 80% of public sector and infrastructure is either completely destroyed or impaired; up to 70% of private properties and civilian homes are either completely destroyed or partially damaged. Approximately 16,000 civilian houses are destroyed beyond repair and must be rebuilt. The assets and livelihoods of the families in the suburban areas were looted and some property and equipment destroyed such as houses and agricultural machineries. 70% of the families lost their livestock and crops, which were their main sources of income.
According to the Strategic plan for the reconstruction and stabilization of the Shingal district which was developed by the local administration and supported by the JCC. Shingal needs for ($ 458,433,854 USA) to bring back the district to its pre-ISIS situation.
Even, in a vote on 28 April 2016, the Iraqi Council of Representatives declared the condition of Shingal district a disaster due to the level of destruction, catastrophic human and economic losses inflicted on the district and the population by ISIS. The Council of Representatives decision placed a responsibility on the Government of Iraq to allocate special funds to rebuild the district’s infrastructure, restore public services and also provide special financial assistance to the affected families and communities, but until today, nothing has been done to stabilize the city and majority of the Ezidis are living in the displacement in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. For more rehabilitation and reconstruction needs, please see the strategic plan via this link;
