Appeal for US and international support for Kurdish Yazidi refugees

Appeal for US and international support for Kurdish Yazidi refugees.

y Dr. Amir Sharifi:

Open Letter to US President, UN General Secretary, Emergency Relief Coordinator, the Directors of NNICFF and UNHCR,WFP, WHO

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Yazidi Kurd children fleeing Sinjar (Photo by Emrah Yorulmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

The Kurdish American Education Society and Human Rights Advocacy Group join the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, and the National Council of Churches to appeal to the US government and the UN agencies to promptly respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of the Kurdish Yazidi refugees. Over 30000 Kurds, mostly Yazidis and tens of thousands of other religious minorities including Turkmens and Christians have fled Shangal and Zumar after their towns fell into the hands of the brutal forces of Islamic State. According to confirmed reports, IS has slaughtered and kidnapped a great many residents of these area; many have been kidnapped and some forcefully converted to Islam and their holy sites have been demolished.

More than 40 children and elderly have died of starvation and dehydration. The refugees are in urgent need of basic necessities such as water, food, shelter, mattresses, and hygiene items. This appalling tragedy with its new influx of refugees is adding to the existing one million refugees that have taken shelter in Kurdish areas as the result of the Syrian protracted conflict or their expulsion from other areas of Iraq. The local capacity for assistance is limited as the new catastrophe is curtailing and reducing the ability of the Kurdish Regional Government to help the displaced and affected families expeditiously, prompting them to seek additional funding for the growing number of refugees as their limited resources dwindle.

We urge the US government and all humanitarian agencies and relief organizations to directly and in coordination with KRG to provide immediate and generous assistance to these refugees, many of whom need urgent lifesaving assistance. As we express our solidarity with these victims, we call for the unequivocal support of the US government, international community, and humanitarian relief organizations to provide emergency aid to these refugees as long term planning is made to meet their future needs.

Cordially

Dr.Amir Sharifi

President of the Kurdish American Education Society-Los Angeles