Christian Charities Give Immense Aid To Thousands Of Displaced Iraqi Christians

Millions of Americans identify as Christian, a vast majority, and a large number (around 73% of them) say that religion is important to them. And one of the most important tenants of Christianity is that one must “love thy neighbor as thyself,” something that many Christian charities exemplify through word, deeds, and faith.

Charities like The Knights of Columbus, who are looking to raise some $2 million to save an Iraqi Christian town that was destroyed by ISIS. The town the group aims to save is Karemlash, which was invaded and ransacked by the terrorist group before being liberated last November.

The Knights stated that their goal is to resettle hundreds of families after they were evicted when ISIS took over the town in 2014, and they hope it “will give many Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq hope for the future.”

This idea, to help the resettlement of Iraqi Christian families that have been driven out of their homes, is shared by many other organizations, some at the urging of The Knights. The group is currently urging their councils and parishes, as well as other church groups, to donate at least $2,000 towards their efforts. This is the approximate cost of resettling a single family.

Another group that shares this sentiment is the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a UK organization looking to help some 100,000 people that have been displaced by ISIS.

Neville Kyrke-Smith, the Director of the charity, recently said, “The benefactors of Aid to the Church in Need have been wonderful in their tremendous response in providing emergency help for Iraqi Christians driven from their homes. Having visited the displaced families sharing homes in northern Iraq, I know how much this vital help means to them. It has put them on the road to recovery.”

The charity has explained that, before the grants, families slept in the open or under bridges, and that they needed food and water and other supplies vitally. But with the help of the ongoing aid, these people were given tents and then portable homes. They are currently looking to move them into purpose-built apartments.

Father Andrzej Halemba, the coordinator of ACN Middle East, stated: “This is a historic moment for the future of Christianity in Iraq.”