Feeding Families and Opening the First Store in the Midst of ISIS Attacks in Mosul
Mosul, Iraq
Dear friends,
Thank you so much for all your help and prayers. We are now in Mosul providing food and medical care for civilians caught in the ongoing conflict. ISIS has fought tenaciously and launches almost-daily suicide attacks against the Iraqi Army. Under the cover of civilian human shields, they are now on a slow retreat within the city. The civilians that can escape are in need of food, medicine and shelter. We are providing as much we can.
Some families have returned to their homes after their neighborhoods have been cleared, braving the threat of an attack as ISIS attempts to break through Iraqi Army lines. While the decision to stay by these people has been dangerous, Iraqi Army protection and frontier aid provided by FBR and other organizations has helped promote a greater sense of self sufficiency among the affected. In turn this has further assisted in reducing pressure on nearby IDP camps.
We have also purchased food and other goods to help the residents of Southeast Mosul open a small store. This is the first of such in Southeast Mosul and is a step towards people being able to get back on their feet. We have fed over 2,000 people in the corner of Mosul where we are, but many more families are being liberated from ISIS and need help.
We have been able to feed, give medical care to and pray with these people under great pressure. On several occasions ISIS has attacked us with suicide bombers and ground assaults aimed at stopping these distributions. Yesterday (26 November, 2016) as we were giving food to 200 families in the Entsar neighborhood of Mosul, ISIS attacked us with small arms fire and tried to penetrate our perimeter with a suicide bomber. They were later stopped by the Iraqi Army. Here are some photos of food distribution and medical care. Thanks for all your help and please pray we can get more to help those in need here.
God bless you,
Dave, Family, and all us at the Free Burma/Kurd/Iraqi Rangers