No shortage of horror for Iraqi refugees

Refugee and Migrant Crisis

No shortage of horror for Iraqi refugees

The U.S. launched airstrikes as Kurdish forces launched a counter-offensive to retake the Mosul dam from Islamic State fighters in northern Iraq. It is being reported that more than 80 people have been killed in a Yazidi village, along with many women and children seized by the extremist fighters. CCTV America’s Sean Callebs reports.

Iraq turmoil: More than 80 killed by IS in Yazidi village

The U.S. launches airstrikes as Kurdish forces launch a counter-offensive to retake the Mosul dam from Islamic State fighters in northern Iraq. It is being reported that more than 80 people have been killed in a Yazidi village, along with many women and children seized by the extremist fighters. CCTV America's Sean Callebs reports.

Many of Iraq’s refugees have lived through torture and beatings at the hands of the Islamic State. There is little room for comfort and no shortage of horrific stories.

No shortage of horror for Iraqi refugees

Many of Iraq's refugees have lived through torture and beatings at the hands of the Islamic State. There is little room for comfort and no shortage of horrific stories. CCTV America's Sean Callebs reports.

One refugee, Yusef Petros, is a devout Catholic and a security guard at his church near Mosul. He became a target when Islamic State militants stormed his city.

Petros proudly tattooed an image of the Virgin Mary on his arm. When the Islamic insurgents saw that, they threatened to slice it off. “They wanted to cut my arm. I told them to cut my throat, because this is what is protecting me,” said Petros.

The Christian hub of Erbil is crowded with refugees from northern Iraq. Services provide a spiritual lift and a chance to take in a hint of air-conditioning, which is a brief respite from the unforgiving heat.

Donations are coming in. Portable showers are going up. Even so, water is in short supply.

“They would ask, what about tomorrow? This question we cannot answer, because we live in a very chaotic situation which makes lives of these people miserable, knowing nothing about tomorrow. There’s no way for them to plan…to think about tomorrow.”  – Bishop Bashar Warda, Catholic Church, Erbil

From the solace of church service to the chaos that comes with meal-time, many families here have been uprooted before in a region that has been plagued with violence.

It is more than just parks and churches that are filled with make-shift tents and families. Even buildings that are under construction are homes to refugees. Water and food is limited. There is little to do in the stifling heat except wonder who will come to their aid and when their lives will return to normal.