The Yazidis are a religious ethnic minority, living primarily in northern Iraq. The terrorist group ISIS has accused them of devil worship and because of this has have committed genocide as well as other horrendous crimes against the Yazidi people. Their intent was to wipe out this Kurdish-speaking religious minority, which practices an ancient, monotheistic religion. In August 2014, ISIS invaded, attacked and occupied Sinjar, the homeland of the Yazidi.  Almost 200,000 Yazidis were besieged by ISIS, executed, abducted into slavery, or forced into ISIS training camps.

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Since 2014, we know that at least 5,000 Yazidis have been killed, an estimated 7,000 Yazidis kidnapped and thousands of Yazidi children orphaned because of ISIS. Mass graves have been found testifying to the slaughter, the true extent of which may never be known.

This genocide of Yazidis by ISIS prompted the largest wave of immigration from Iraq in recent history.  Thousands of Yazidis fled the horrors of captivity.  They sought safety by fleeing to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.  Today, hundreds of thousands of Yazidis remain displaced.

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Although Sinjar was retaken in November 2015, the Yazidis are still displaced and have no place to return. Nearly 70 percent of buildings in Sinjar were damaged or destroyed during the fight to retake the city. Modern-day Sinjar is a ghost town, without water, schools, or hospitals.

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The American Foundation for Relief & Reconciliation in the Middle East provides humanitarian assistance, health care, and education to Yazidis who have fled the genocide throughout the Middle East.

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American FRRME is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that promotes reconciliation, provides relief efforts, advances human rights, and seeks an end to sectarian violence in the Middle East.

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To make a donation to American FRRME, please visit NETWORK FOR GOOD.