In 2014, many of these families had only a few hours to flee their homes, taking precious little besides the clothes on their back, and whatever they could carry. Many retreated to nearby safe-haven cities further east, such as Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
From there began a three-year displacement of despair and uncertainty. Many were assigned to displacement tent encampments, and fewer were taken in by local churches, eventually relocated to temporary housing. Others were taken in by relatives or by kind neighbors. Food and shelter were provided as best it could, mostly through the efforts of relief organizations. Work was sporadic and arduous, with many finding jobs as day workers, truck drivers, hotel workers, and the like. This became the norm for many Christian families for far longer than any had hoped and prayed.
Related: Timeline of ISIS in Iraq
Related: Attacks on Assyrians in Syria By ISIS and Other Muslim Groups
After ISIS was defeated militarily in 2017, many displaced Christians were finally able to return to their homes. This, however, created a whole new hardship. Upon retreating, ISIS had burned the homes of Christians, destroyed and looted their businesses, and even poisoned their water wells. The returning Christian families had nothing; they were forced to start from scratch.
Compounding their efforts, the Iranian-backed militias, who were initially welcomed to fight the spread of ISIS, have remained, exerting their influence and exploiting the disputed territories claimed by both the Iraqi Central Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). These territories, which include the Nineveh Plains, have been poorly funded by both sides, and are characterized by weak governance and inadequate security. Many of the returning minorities have reported harassment and corruption at checkpoints, with the militias demanding bribes and threatening local politicians, further thwarting the local economies. We encountered this uncomfortable situation first hand, in several ways; it creates anxiety and disruption for those trying to maintain a livelihood. To make matters worse, once the immediate crisis was over, many of the relief organizations ceased funding these communities, while much of the hard work was still ahead.
Since 2017, Stand With Iraqi Christians (SWIC), and other NGOs operating on the ground, have provided thousands of beneficiaries with family farm funding and small business grants to help get their lives and livelihoods back. With our help and their unwavering faith, these families strive to re-establish their once-proud and flourishing communities.
Ten years hence, it's been a long road back. Prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Christians of Iraq numbered more than 1.6 million. Today, by most recent counts, there are less than 165,000; that's about a 90 percent decimation. The Christians modern-day Iraq are amongst the oldest Christian communities in the world, dating back to the 1st century, when the Apostle Thomas spread the Gospel throughout Mesopotamia. Even today, these Christian communities speak Aramaic, the native tongue of Jesus. As Christians, we can't allow Christianity to disappear from Iraq, a land that is so rich in biblical history. More critically, as human beings, we can't abide this suffering to continue.
Most recently, during a trip to Iraq in May 2024, SWIC and its partners performed a needs assessment survey to understand how best to serve these communities that have endured so much over the past decade. We were present on the ground to talk with these community leaders and hard-working citizens. We listened to their thoughts and concerns. They welcomed us into their homes with open hearts and warm meals. They were thankful and hopeful. They praised God for everything they have. My heart soared for these faith-tested families whose unwavering devotion made me feel more than a little ashamed of some of my own concerns back home in the U.S. These are grassroots Christians with love and faith pervading all aspects of their daily lives.
Their chief concerns today are security and employment, especially for the younger generation. Many of the young adults today were children when ISIS attacked. All they've known is strife, displacement, and hardship. They love their country, for which they've worked hard and sacrificed everything to secure a safe return.
What they yearn for most now is the ability to stay and raise their families in their homeland. SWIC is committed to answering their call by funding employment opportunities with a focus on the younger generation. Many require vocational training to address the ever-changing technological needs of the agricultural landscape. Other vocations include IT training for programming, coding, and other disciplines. A better educated and more informed workforce could attract more businesses to these communities. These are just some of the innovative ways these needs can be addressed. This will require more funding, more attention, more love.
A decade ago, SWIC entered into a love covenant with the Christians of Iraq and promised to be with them every step of the way; that includes the hopes and dreams of their children. There's more work to be done for these ancient Christian communities; now is not the time to leave them behind. The Apostles' work can only continue through us. Will you help answer the call? To learn more on how to you can help, please visit us at: www.swic.org
Joe Lipuma serves as co-chairman of Stand With Iraqi Christians.
or register to post a comment.