Yazidis escaping Mt. Sinjar still face many terrors
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Version 0 of 1. Many Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq with dwindling resources after the Islamic State conquered their cities have now escaped. The Islamic State has killed and abducted many members of the minority community, which follows a faith that goes back more than 4,000 years. It forced many to flee and left them with almost no food or water. U.S. forces intervened and launched airstrikes against the Islamist militants, which helped thousands of Yazidis leave the mountain. The Post's Liz Sly witnessed the journey many Yazidis made: Hungry, thirsty and tired, they limped across a narrow bridge spanning the Tigris on the Iraqi-Syrian border hauling their few belongings, some of them barefoot, others in sleeping clothes because they ran for their lives at night. Hungry, thirsty and tired, they limped across a narrow bridge spanning the Tigris on the Iraqi-Syrian border hauling their few belongings, some of them barefoot, others in sleeping clothes because they ran for their lives at night. Military helicopters arrived to take as many Yazidis away from the region as they could. Many refugees in tears after 10 days stranded on mt Sinjar with no food, water. 33 degree heat: pic.twitter.com/OHapYJVbKe — Jonathan Rugman (@jrug) August 11, 2014 Many refugees in tears after 10 days stranded on mt Sinjar with no food, water. 33 degree heat: pic.twitter.com/OHapYJVbKe — Jonathan Rugman (@jrug) August 11, 2014 Refugees mobbed our helicopter. One man was punched back. So desperate to get aboard after 10 days on mountain. pic.twitter.com/RVBNQ86SQg — Jonathan Rugman (@jrug) August 11, 2014 Refugees mobbed our helicopter. One man was punched back. So desperate to get aboard after 10 days on mountain. pic.twitter.com/RVBNQ86SQg — Jonathan Rugman (@jrug) August 11, 2014 Unfortunately, some civilians had to be turned away as one of the helicopters couldn't take off because of the load. Watch Channel 4's report from Mount Sinjar: CNN helicopters rescued some of the trapped Yazidis. We found little Heline, her mother and sister, who escaped Sinjar Mountain with us on a helicopter #Iraq #kurdistan pic.twitter.com/jop61PqjF7 — Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 13, 2014 We found little Heline, her mother and sister, who escaped Sinjar Mountain with us on a helicopter #Iraq #kurdistan pic.twitter.com/jop61PqjF7 — Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 13, 2014 We also found their cousins Aziza & Dunya, who were so frightened on the chopper. Their dad called, he's still alive pic.twitter.com/ve4xEvAkzE — Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 13, 2014 We also found their cousins Aziza & Dunya, who were so frightened on the chopper. Their dad called, he's still alive pic.twitter.com/ve4xEvAkzE — Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) August 13, 2014 Even when they were able to leave the mountain, conditions were dire. Terrible situation at this makeshift camp for #Yazidis 8000 here sharing 200 tents and 5 toilets #Iraq #skybreaking pic.twitter.com/KpVldXTTjY — Sherine Tadros (@SherineT) August 13, 2014 Terrible situation at this makeshift camp for #Yazidis 8000 here sharing 200 tents and 5 toilets #Iraq #skybreaking pic.twitter.com/KpVldXTTjY — Sherine Tadros (@SherineT) August 13, 2014 Sinjar, in 2006: White recounted his experience in Sinjar for WorldViews: Sinjar was much like other small cities in that remote part of Iraq: dusty, dingy, depressing. But the people there were full of hope, believing that they had emerged from a dark time and were headed toward something better. Sinjar was much like other small cities in that remote part of Iraq: dusty, dingy, depressing. But the people there were full of hope, believing that they had emerged from a dark time and were headed toward something better. |