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Three years ago this week, disturbing images of women and children fleeing the Islamic State in northern Iraq shocked the world. During the siege of Mt. Sinjar, reports emerged of ISIS militants ruthlessly massacring Yazidi men and kidnapping and enslaving Yazidi women and children. Girls were separated by eye color and sold to ISIS fighters based on their preference. Thousands were trapped on the mountain, desperate for food, water and rescue.

Similarly, Iraqs ancient Christian community was in the crosshairs as ISIS attempted to establish a caliphate. Days after the Sinjar massacre, ISIS seized Qaraqosh, Iraqs largest Christian city with a population of 50,000. Fleeing on foot, many could not escape being killed, kidnapped, or forced to convert. Churches and other holy sites that had stood for centuries were bombed, defaced or destroyed, or turned into torture chambers and weapons storehouses. The full measure of human suffering exacted against these innocent people remains incalculable.

This bloodthirsty campaign targeting ethnic and religious minorities was clearly genocidea term I do not use lightly. At the time, I and many others urged the Obama Administration to officially recognize the Islamic States atrocities for what they were, and then-Secretary of State John Kerry finally did, on March 17, 2016. His declaration that ISIS is responsible for genocide against Christians, Yezidis and other religious minorities was only the second time in history that a U.S. secretary of state made a genocide determinationthe first being Darfur. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives unanimously passed resolutions denouncing this genocide.

Unfortunately, it is unclear whether the current administration maintains this determination. It is important for Secretary Tillerson to publicly address this issue and clarify the administrations stance, which my colleagues and I have asked him to do. Even then, words without action will not change the reality on the ground. The Trump Administration must take decisive steps to counter the gravity of the situation: ISIS is seeking to erase thousands of years of history and the people who represent it.

The Bibles Old Testament is full of references to the ancient cities and towns that comprise modern-day Iraq. Abraham hailed from Ur in southern Iraq. Isaacs wife Rebekah was from northwest Iraq. The twelve sons of Jacob were all born in Iraq, and the spiritual revival depicted in the book of Jonah occurred in the city of Nineveh, now known as Mosul. Many of the Christians there still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus, and trace their faith back to the Apostle Thomas. Sadly, their population in Iraq has quickly dwindled from 1.4 million a generation ago to less than 200,000 today.

If the United States fails to take meaningful steps to support these communities, including ensuring their access to humanitarian assistance and the resources they need to rebuild, even more of them will be forced to abandon their ancient homeland. This would be a tragedy on a multitude of levels, and a deathblow to the vision of a diverse, pluralistic, Iraq that respects religious freedom. The State Department has an obligation to ensure vulnerable and persecuted religious minorities, including victims of genocide receive humanitarian aid, as Congress directed in the most recent appropriations legislation.

I will continue to press for oversight and accountability in this area, but the Executive Branch must prioritize the issue, rather than allow the inertia of the State Department bureaucracy to dictate the path forward. President Trump should quickly end the exclusion of genocide-targeted minorities from U.S. humanitarian and reconstruction aid. A presidential directive would provide much-needed guidance to State Department and USAID personnel. I have no doubt that once Governor Sam Brownback is confirmed as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, he will be a stalwart advocate on behalf of these beleaguered religious communities.

Additionally, Secretary Tillerson should move swiftly to appoint a special coordinator based in northern Iraq who can directly oversee U.S. assistance and collaborate closely with local partners and civil society groups. The U.S. should not cede this important work to the United Nations Development Fund. Combining these efforts with diplomatic engagement with Iraqs central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, we can help guarantee the political and economic rights of these beleaguered communities, as well their return and protection.

President Obamas misguided foreign policy did real damage to Iraqs minorities, but these ancient communities could disappear completely on President Trumps watch if his administration fails to help them.

Marco Rubio has been serving as U.S. Senator from Florida since 2011.

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The US Must Act On The Genocide Of Iraq's Christians - The Daily Caller

A mass grave, containing the bodies of around 40 men, was found by the Iraq's army in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi. The army believes that the men were executed by Daesh.

Photo by: AFP Archive

Members of Iraq's elite counterterrorism service secure the Hoz neighbourhood in central Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province on December 27, 2015.

Iraqi troops have found a mass grave in the western city of Ramadi containing the bodies of 40 men believed to have been executed by Daesh, officials said on Friday.

It is the latest of dozens of such grisly finds made by Iraqi forces since they drove the extremists out of the swathes of northern and western Iraq that they had occupied in 2014.

Ammar Nuri al Dulaimi, an official from a Martyrs Committee for Anbar province, said the bodies had bullet wounds to the head, suggesting they were executed by Daesh.

An army colonel, who asked not to be named, said troops had uncovered the mass grave during a sweep of the Al Tach neighbourhood in the south of Ramadi, which is the capital of the Al Anbargovernate.

The army retook the city in December 2015.

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Mass grave discovered in former Daesh-held city in Iraq - TRT World

Donald Trump is wildly popular among the Kurds.

When comedian Samantha Bee traveled to northern Iraq, she was stunned to find Kurds, who are Muslim, who love Trump so much, one couple even named their son after the U.S. president.

This is my son, Trump. Ive called him Trump since the day he was born, one man told Bee, on her show Full Frontal With Samantha Bee.

When Bee asked why, he said: Well, he is angry, very angry, just like him. Although he is so little, sometimes I cannot handle him.

Added the wife of her adorable toddler: He beats us with his fists.

The Kurds, who number around 30 million, are spread out in Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The U.S. military has a long history of helping them fight for independence.

Trump became the first U.S. president to support the Department of Defenses plan to directly fund Kurds fighting ISIS.

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Samantha Bee finds Trump supporters in Iraq - New York Post

KEY FIGURES

837,900 Internally displaced Iraqis verified as being currently displaced from Mosul and surrounding areas since military operations to retake the city began on 17 October 20161

587,299 IDPs, returnees and members of the host community from Mosul and surrounding areas assisted by UNHCR since 17 October 2016.

263,756 Individuals (54,668 households) impacted by military operations to retake Mosul since October 2016 are currently enrolled in ASSIST, UNHCRs assistance tracking tool

3.3 million IDPs since January 20142

257,476 Iraqi refugees hosted in countries in the region, and 21,503 Iraqis received in camps in Hassakeh, Syria since 17 October 2016

FUNDING

POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Cumulatively, 1,077,444 individuals (179,574 families) have been displaced due to the conflict in Mosul. 239,544 individuals (39,924 families) have returned to their areas of origin, and 837,900 individuals (139,650 families) remain displaced, according to the International Organization for Migrations Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

New arrivals to camps have been static. Between 31 July and 1 August, 185 families arrived at camps south of Mosul, 157 families at camps east of Mosul, and 25 families to camps north of Mosul. An average of 10-15 families arriving to the camps each day have been in the camps previously and had returned from Mosul again largely due to lack of livelihood, high rents and prices of basic goods and security related concerns. During the same time, departures decreased in comparison with previous days, with 44 families leaving eastern Mosul camps and 87 families from southern Mosul camps.

Families from Tel Afar and Baaj (Ninewa Governorate) arrived at Hammam al-Alil screening site, 25 km south of Mosul. During 31 July to 1 August, 141 persons reached the screening site, and 93 persons departed for Hammam al-Alil 2 camp.

Decrease in new arrivals from Hawiga (Kirkuk Governorate). Reportedly, there has been an increase in checkpoints manned by armed groups along displacement routes. Between 31 July and 1 August, 13 families who had fled Hawiga and crossed through the Hamreen mountains reached Al-Alam camp in Salah al-Din Governorate.

SITUATION UPDATE

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi stated on 2 August that the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was his first priority. The Government has adopted a timeline for IDP returns in retaken areas in Ninewa, including west Mosul, and efforts to restore basic services and clear explosive hazards were ongoing. The Prime Minister indicated that an advisory team from Mosul University was supporting the rehabilitation of the Mosul city.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), nearly 250 civilians were killed in Iraq in July, a drop in casualty figures from June, with the conclusion of major operations in Mosul. In June, 415 civilians were killed and 300 injured.

Around 12 million Iraqis reside in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Years of conflict have destroyed or damaged harvests, equipment, infrastructure, livestock, seeds, crops and stored food and left 3.2 million Iraqis food insecure. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is working with mobile service providers to assist rural families in Iraq through newly adopted mobile money transfer technology as part of a cash-for-work programme to rehabilitate farming infrastructure.

RESPONSE UPDATE

UNHCR protection partner identified and assisted persons with specific needs. 30 cases were referred to specialised service providers in the Khazer, Hasansham, and Chamakor camps, east of Mosul. UNHCRs legal partner also conducted 126 legal consultations. In Debaga camps in Erbil Governorate, UNHCR partners have been supporting a campaign to prevent sexual harassments.

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Iraq Situation: UNHCR Flash Update - 3 August 2017 - ReliefWeb

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region Short message service (SMS) technology will allow thousands of rural farmers to be paid electronically and return to their agrarian livelihoods in areas of northern Iraq recently liberated from ISIS and in the Kurdistan Region.

They can then collect their wages from any certified money mobile transfer agent, provided their code and identity number match those registered.

The Belgium government-funded programme will support 12,000 conflict-affected people in 30 villages in Kirkuk, Anbar, Salahaddin and Nineveh governorates.

As well as providing much-needed income for participants, the programme will improve agricultural production in the surrounding communities, through activities including rehabilitating canals for irrigation to grow crops and preparing farmland for planting, said Fadel El-Zubi, FAO Representative in Iraq El-Zubi.

FAO and Iraqs Zain telecommunications have partnered for the cash-for-work programme.

This, in turn, will encourage community members still displaced by conflict to return home and begin farming again, Zubi added. FAOs aim is to support people to get back on their feet as quickly as possible, and reduce their reliance on food assistance.

As of 15 July, more than 3.3 million people remained displaced within Iraq, while about 2 million had returned home, according to UN data.

Around 12 million Iraqis live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Decades of conflict have destroyed fields, farms, infrastructure, livestock and crops. The use of mobile technology will streamline the safe delivery of cash transfers to participants, who are some of the most vulnerable people in the country, said Zubi.

FAO estimates $74.5 million is needed to assist 1.39 million people this year who work in the husbandry and agriculture industries.

In addition to fighting ISIS, the US-led global coalition is committed to stabilization. In March, they announced more than $2 billion of funding commitments from partners.

Tillerson explained that stabilization for the State Department means security through local law enforcement faces they recognize and restoring fundamental needs to the community power, water, sewage.

He added: We get the essentials in place. Were not there to rebuild their communities. Thats for them to do and thats for the international community to marshal the resources to allow them to do that.

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Mobile payment system in Iraq aims to help 12000 farmers return - Rudaw