Photo: UNHCR, via assistnews.net

UN reports more than 4300 Assyrians fled Mosul in the past month

The United Nations humanitarian arm has reported that 4,320 Iraqi Christians have been displaced following recent unrest in the northern city of Mosul in Iraq, reports Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST Ministries.

According to the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), the latest figure represents an increase of about 200 people, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which added that the influx of displaced Christian families from Mosul city to nearby districts in the Ninewa governorate [the Arabic name for the biblical city of Nineveh] has slowed down over the past few days.

“OCHA noted that there are protection concerns for the Christian families remaining in Mosul, including unconfirmed reports that they are confined to their homes out of fear for their safety,” said the AINA story.

“In addition, Christian university students are reportedly not attending classes and workers are not attending their places of work.”

The story added, that in October 2008, more than 12,000 Christians fled Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, following an upsurge in attacks, threats and intimidation, with some returning later after hearing that the security situation had improved

“Deadly attacks against Christians in the city occurred again in December 2009,” the AINA story concluded.

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TAGS: Iraq humanitarian arm Christian families persecution unrest in Mosul

[04/06/2010]

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