MESOP REPORT : Benjamin Hiller Photojournalist – THE DANGER IN NINIVEH
7-8-2014 – This was just confirmed to me by the Kurdistan Department for Foreign Affairs as well as from the Kurdistan Interior Ministry:
The Niniveh-Plains are now almost entirely unprotected by the Peshmerga Forces. They have retreated on a large scale to concentrate their spare resources (like running low on ammunition due to the still upheld blockade by the USA for Arms Deliveries) at the current most dangerous battle areas. This has led to another refugee wave as the areas of Qaraqosh/Baghdeda, Tel Kef etc. are now completely unprotected – as well as the surrounding villages from mainly Assyrian (200.000 Assyrian Christians have already fled since yesterday), Êzidî, Shabak Minority as well as Muslim Kurds