19 Mar 2015
Syrian and Iraqi Christians are asking for more international help amid the onslaught of the Islamic State. They made their plea from their new homes in Lebanon, where they had to flee after being attacked by ISIS. On Tuesday, the displaced believers lined up at two churches in Beirut to receive food baskets and other aid from a non-profit organization called In Defense of Christians. “We used to live like kings in our land, our sons had free education; we had everything. Look at me now,” exclaimed a small, middle aged woman from the predominantly Assyrian village of Tel Nasri. Last month, the jihadist army overran a cluster of Assyrian villages, taking at least 220 Christians hostage. Iman Chamoun, 42, and her family were forced to flee Mosul some nine months ago. “They (ISIS) took everything, the house, furniture, they even took the doors. The work of 25 years was lost in one minute… It’s like living a dream, a nightmare,” she said. Without any money or belongings, her family is now struggling to survive in Lebanon. “But we are Christians, despite everything we give thanks to God,” she said. So far, about 25 hostages have been released, but the fate of the remaining captives is unclear.