Visiting these displaced families in Erbil Iraq was a heart wrenching experience. These are ordinary working families who were forced to flee for their lives. Now they have nothing. Yes, they are blessed to be living in apartments rented by World Renew and Life Agape Iraq, rather than in the miserable conditions of tents in the camps. But they lost everything and had to flee with just the clothes on their backs.

I had nothing to say to them that could bring hope and so often sat awkwardly on the mattresses while they graciously share cookies and pop with me, their visitor.

I would like to now share their stories with you.

Family #1

Basam Abdel Azez Baboka is from Karakos. He now lives in an apartment in Erbil, which was rented to him by Life Agape Iraq. This tiny, two-bedroom apartment is home to two families (8 people) – Basam’s and his nephew’s.

Both families were forced to flee with only the clothes on their backs after an ISIS attack on August 6th. Their homes were looted and all their possessions are now gone. The nephew’s wife was nine months pregnant and gave birth shortly after they arrived in Erbil.

The family did not want to have their picture taken.

Family #2

Sinan Moayad has one more year to go to finish his engineering degree.  He is now employed part-time by Life Agape Iraq to help in their relief project. His English is very good and he served me as an interpreter. Sinan’s family including sister, parents and cousins – 18 in all – share the space in this apartment. Four of them are university and college graduates.

They left as ISIS entered Mosul because their home was near the police station and they were afraid of the fighting that would ensue. That first night, they left at 1 A.M. and walked 35 kilometers. They have been able to contact Muslim neigbours back home by cell phone who confirmed that ISIS looted their house by driving up with a six wheel truck and taking everything.

The Moayad family hope to return home as soon as it is safe. Right now, they very graciously thanked me for the support from World Renew. Their apartment is totally bare… except for mattresses on which we sat. They graciously offered me cookies and juice sharing from the extreme poverty. And once again, only Sinan was willing to have his picture taken. They are waiting and praying.

They are Catholic and Orthodox Christians, but now attend any and all Christian services for the support and encouragement they receive. 

Family #3

Najeeb was a high school teacher and so was one of his grown daughters. Another was studying medicine. August 6th changed everything as they fled for their lives. They don’t know what happened to their house after they left.

Today, seven members from two families share one apartment. The rooms in their apartment are empty except for mattresses and they have no blankets or heaters for the coming winter. Once again they are waiting and hoping against hope for a chance to return home.

Family #4

The Arashad Hana family live in a two-bedroom house across the street from where the UNHCR is setting up a tent city for the IDPs. There are four families (related to each other) who share the two bedroom house – 11 persons in all. This is a special needs family with three very old people as well as three children who have eye problems.

They fled from the Karamsk village and are Chaldean Christians. The husband worked as a guard at the church in the village. They have heard that ISIS took down all of the crosses. 

Please join me in praying for these and other Iraqi families.

Blessings,

Ken Little

Senior Project Manger
World Renew International Disaster Response