Yazidis give eyewitness accounts of humanitarian tragedy in Iraq

Global Business

Eyewitness accounts from Yazidi refugees who were trapped by the Islamic State on Mount Sinjar give a shocking view of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

CCTV America’s Sean Callebs spoke to 26-year-old Resala Sharkani, an Iraqi journalist who covered the traumatic events at Mount Sinjar in northwestern Iraq.

Sharkani said almost 40,000 Yazidis waited for days on the mountain to escape the IS militants, until help finally came. She said at least 1,500 people died before the U.S. led airstrikes that caused the IS militants to disperse, allowing the Yazidis to escape.

So far, 1.5 million people have been displaced since IS militants moved into northern Iraq. U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to build an international coalition to address this ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Curt Welling, former president and CEO of the non-profit disaster relief organization AmeriCares, joined Biz Asia America for more on this issue.

MORE IRAQ COVERAGE ON CCTV AMERICA.