*UPDATE: the city of Mosul has since been liberated from ISIS control on Sunday, July 9th, 2017. Iraqi forces and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the city free from the grip of ISIS after three years.
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Above, two young boys comfort each other after seeing the collapse of their home, knowing that loved ones are still under the rubble.** This is beyond unimaginable: it’s devastating. The fight to liberate Mosul from ISIS has left its mark on many families who grieve through continued loss of lives, homes and safety. Much of what they knew has been destroyed.
Between 2,000 and 3,500 people flee the city of Mosul each day, according to the United Nations. Still thousands more are trapped in the Old City and full of fear. Air strikes, sniper fire, shelling and roadside bombs mean no place in the Old City is safe. Families of civilians are being forced to make impossible life-or-death choices as they try to escape the violence.
Iraqi troops continue to advance on the city and remaining ISIS strongholds. Now, days away from the liberation of Mosul, the idea of freedom is real, despite the destruction. In a matter of days, as many as 100,000 civilians will either flee or stay in the collapsed neighborhoods and homes, and many, if not all, are in need of aid.
The impact we can make in this region cannot be understated! Men, women and children will step into a new part of life carrying the burden of years of terror, hatred and hurt collected in ISIS captivity. According to the U.N., the fight to liberate the city of Mosul has lasted nearly nine months and displaced more than 897,000 people. Hard times leave marks on each one of us; therefore, those who help in hard times also leave their mark. God can use you to reach these refugee families and possibly alter the course of their life and eternity.
Together, we can provide relief items like food, blankets and toiletries to the hands of the local Church in Iraq, meeting the immediate needs of families. These refugee families will remember it was the Church who was there to give them food first. God can use the refugee crisis in the Middle East for His glory, and a food box or a blanket can help turn these people to Him! He can use you to do it.
We invite you to give a gift today to help refugees in the Mosul area. Many of us have seen the tragedy unfold on the world stage. Today, we want to give you the opportunity to respond. Now is the time to act.
