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Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh | Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh |
(35 minutes later) | |
Up to a quarter of Iraq's Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority's biggest town in the country. | Up to a quarter of Iraq's Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority's biggest town in the country. |
The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh in Nineveh province overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. | The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh in Nineveh province overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. |
Meanwhile, the UN says some of the 50,000 members of the Yazidi religious minority trapped by IS on Mount Sinjar have been rescued. | Meanwhile, the UN says some of the 50,000 members of the Yazidi religious minority trapped by IS on Mount Sinjar have been rescued. |
IS controls parts of Iraq and Syria and says it has created an Islamic state. | IS controls parts of Iraq and Syria and says it has created an Islamic state. |
Nineveh, located 400km (250 miles) north-west of Baghdad, is home to a large number of religious minorities. | Nineveh, located 400km (250 miles) north-west of Baghdad, is home to a large number of religious minorities. |
Tens of thousands have been forced to flee since IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, launched their onslaught in the north in June. | Tens of thousands have been forced to flee since IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, launched their onslaught in the north in June. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
A majority of Nineveh inhabitants left their homes overnight, according to Fraternite en Irak, an international Christian organisation based in Paris. | A majority of Nineveh inhabitants left their homes overnight, according to Fraternite en Irak, an international Christian organisation based in Paris. |
As many as 100,000 people are believed to be fleeing toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region. | As many as 100,000 people are believed to be fleeing toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region. |
Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis. | Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis. |
A Vatican statement said the Pope appealed for "all necessary help" to be given to those forced to flee their homes, "whose fate depends entirely on the solidarity of others". | A Vatican statement said the Pope appealed for "all necessary help" to be given to those forced to flee their homes, "whose fate depends entirely on the solidarity of others". |
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has called for the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting over the situation. | |
Christian 'catastrophe' | |
Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance for weeks. | Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance for weeks. |
The Peshmerga's commander in Qaraqosh reportedly told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. | The Peshmerga's commander in Qaraqosh reportedly told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. |
Several senior clergymen in Nineveh confirmed the town had fallen. | Several senior clergymen in Nineveh confirmed the town had fallen. |
"It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk. | "It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk. |
Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts. | Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts. |
The town - referred to as Iraq's Christian capital - is located 30km south-east of the city of Mosul, which was captured by IS in June. | The town - referred to as Iraq's Christian capital - is located 30km south-east of the city of Mosul, which was captured by IS in June. |
Iraq's minorities | Iraq's minorities |
Christians | Christians |
Yazidis | Yazidis |
Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh | Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh |
Yazidi eyewitness: 'They want to slaughter us' | Yazidi eyewitness: 'They want to slaughter us' |
Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be executed. | Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be executed. |
Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. | Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
Meanwhile, the UN said it was mobilising resources to assist Yazidis rescued from Mount Sinjar over the past 24 hours. | Meanwhile, the UN said it was mobilising resources to assist Yazidis rescued from Mount Sinjar over the past 24 hours. |
Members of the religious group sought refuge there after IS overran the nearby town of Sinjar at the weekend. | Members of the religious group sought refuge there after IS overran the nearby town of Sinjar at the weekend. |
Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced from the town, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned. | Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced from the town, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned. |
Those trapped on the mountain are facing dehydration, and 40 children are reported to have died already. | Those trapped on the mountain are facing dehydration, and 40 children are reported to have died already. |
"This is a tragedy of immense proportions, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," UN spokesman David Swanson said. "Many of the displaced are in immediate need of essential life-saving humanitarian items, including water, food, shelter and medicine." | "This is a tragedy of immense proportions, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," UN spokesman David Swanson said. "Many of the displaced are in immediate need of essential life-saving humanitarian items, including water, food, shelter and medicine." |
Are you in the area? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding "Iraq" in the subject heading and include your contact details. | Are you in the area? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding "Iraq" in the subject heading and include your contact details. |