At least 20,000 Iraqis have safely fled Mt Sinjar: officials

Agence France Presse via The Daily Star ^ | Aug. 10, 2014 | 02:21 PM

[GonzoII]

At least 20,000 Iraqis have safely fled Mt Sinjar: officials

IRBIL, Iraq: At least 20,000 civilians who had been besieged by jihadists on a mountain in northern Iraq have safely escaped to Syria and been escorted by Kurdish forces back into Iraq, officials said Sunday.

The breakthrough coincided with US air raids on Islamic State fighters in the Sinjar area of northwestern Iraq Saturday.

Shawkat Barbahari, an official from the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq put the number of people who escaped the siege and crossed back into Iraqi Kurdistan at 30,000.

"The Kurdish peshmerga forces have succeeded in making 30,000 Yazidis who fled Mount Sinjar, most of them women and children, cross into Syria and return to Kurdistan," said Barbahari, who is in charge of the Fishkhabur crossing with Syria.

"Most of them crossed yesterday and today, this operation is ongoing and we really don't know how many are still up there on the mountain," he told AFP.

Lawmaker Vian Dakhil, who is from the Yazidi minority most of the Mount Sinjar displaced belong to, said 20,000 to 30,000 had managed to flee and were now in Iraqi Kurdistan.

"20,000 to 30,000 have managed to flee Mount Sinjar but there are still thousands on the mountain," she told AFP.

[Sacajaweau]

Pulled that number right out of their...._ _ _.

Hat

[Kackikat]

I’ve always wondered how they could accurately count the number of refugees?

[txhurl]

Sat photos of hurried migrations. Godspeed.

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/pomegranate/2013/11/yazidis-iraq

[Safetgiver]

They tell the Media, “Pick a number, any number” Just make sure it makes Obammi look good.

[Uncle Chip]

Where are the French, and Brits, and Europeans in all this???

[txhurl]

Only Britain is pondering rendering assistance.

But crucial intel is being quietly provided by everyone with national interests in Iraq... which is everyone but us...

[RedMDer]

All contributions are for the current quarter expenses.


FReepathon day 40.

Two percent a day keeps the 404 away.

[odds]

Before the American fighters started to fly in Northern Iraq, the Kurds said, published in the media, some ‘unknown’ planes were already bombing... the Kurds thought it might have been the French.. but who knows?! I don’t think it was French, Russian, British or American! That’s the way it should be done, not with razzmataz ;)

[fella]

We need a detailed map with scale.

[fella]

Found some

[Salvation]

 

Prayer for Iraq

O God, who art the unsearchable abyss of peace,
the ineffable sea of love, the fountain of blessings
and the bestower of affection,
who sendest peace to those that receive it;

Open to us this day the sea of thy love
and water us with plenteous streams
from the riches of thy grace
and from the most sweet springs of thy kindness.

Make us children of quietness and heirs of peace,
enkindle in us the fire of thy love;
sow in us thy fear;
strengthen our weakness by thy power;
bind us closely to thee and to each other
in our firm and indissoluble bond of unity:

Syrian Clementine Liturgy (in: For all God’s people; p. 73)

The full text of Patriarch Sako’s prayer for peace follows:

Lord,
The plight of our country
is deep and the suffering of Christians
is severe and frightening.
Therefore, we ask you Lord
to spare our lives, and to grant us patience,
and courage to continue our witness of Christian values
with trust and hope.
Lord, peace is the foundation of life;
Grant us the peace and stability that will enable us
to live with each other without fear and anxiety,
and with dignity and joy.

Glory be to you forever.  Amen.

Litany for Iraq

For lasting peace in this ancient land – From you, O Lord.
For wisdom and compassion for all in authority – From you, O Lord.
For comfort for families separated or bereaved – From you, O Lord.
For the release of captives – From you, O Lord.
For safety and security for minority communities.
For refreshment for the weary and healing for the sick – From you, O Lord.
For continuing faithfulness of the ancient churches of this land – From you, O Lord.
For tenacity of spirit for small Christian groups – From you, O Lord.
For the mutual enrichment and support of those of different Christian traditions – From you, O Lord.

You, Lord of all, we confess;
You, Lord Jesus, we glorify;
For you are the life of our bodies
And you are the Saviour of our souls.

The response in the litany and this hymn both come from the Chaldean liturgy. The ancient hymn celebrates Christ the source of resurrection in all situations of death and deprivation. (in: With All God’s People, p. 21, 22)

From Anonymous:

Father God, Our Savior and King,

We come to You in despair over the evil being done to our Middle East Christian brothers and sisters. We ask that You would put Your hand of protection upon them and that You would sustain them as You did the Israelites in the desert. Lord, cause our brothers and sisters to cry out to You for help and show them the peace that only You can give in answer to their needs. In their darkest moments, Lord, keep them, strengthen them, and comfort them. When they despair that no one is coming to help them, Lord, reveal Your glory and restore their souls.

We ask you these things in the blessed name of Your precious son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

[Kackikat]

That must be it, because I don’t see any counters anywhere....at least that’s how they get numbers for cars.

[Kackikat]

Thanks...our satellites can count? cool.