An update, as Im getting many concerned messages. Firstly, if youre taking info from western media, its been 24 hours behind the news up until today. The worst news, and what remains my biggest concern, is the stranded on Sinjar Mountain. So many of you compassionate friends are asking how to help them....the immediate aid is arriving there, slowly. That tens of thousands of people can be stranded in an area without water for almost a week is incomprehensible. I cant understand it, and most here dont either. Short of sorting logistics hitherto beyond the capacity of the best minds, theres no way to support them. However, drops have been made and there are encouraging reports of evacuation. Secondly, and I cant stress this enough, Erbil is secure. Its a city I am going to leave shortly, but I fully intend to return. That said - if you are not currently here, returning without essential purpose is crazy. Ive been asked by many former residents about the situation, and some want to come back for belongings. Dont. Sit back for a few days or weeks, and understand that the situation is changeable. Finally, I just want to say something about the premium given in international media to this as a religiously based war. [The vast majority of] EDIT, *All, every single one of*, the Muslims I know are outraged by the crimes being committed in the name of their faith. Its undeniable that the slaughter of Iraqi minorities over the last few weeks has been committed by zealots. Horrific as this is, and IS are carrying out atrocities in the name of their interpretation of their God and belief, the broader picture in Iraq at least is political. The White House asked for an inclusive government today - Iraq laughed wryly as it noted that PM Maliki, the man widely considered the spark for this current horror, was the man the US put in place. As I said, I am leaving soon, for a short while. I will reassess my position. I wont be returning to the UK, rather just go and sit somewhere less panicked for a week. Then I will decide. Im not religious. However, Ive found myself imploring a higher power recently. Pray for peace...and consider writing to your MP asking for action against IS, as that burst sausage of a cockwit Cameron seems to think that the UK is in no way responsible. Love to you all x
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 22:22:23 +0000
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