When ISIS took over large portions of northern Iraq in 2014, Christians fled for their lives. Many of them lived in tents or abandoned buildings in other parts of the country for more than three years. But even when their hometowns were finally liberated from ISIS control, all that was left behind was rubble.
Since September 2017, Samaritan’s Purse has rebuilt 765 homes so that Iraqi Christians can come back to their traditional villages on the Nineveh Plains. These families have lived there for generations, and their return allows them to continue as a light for Christ in a Muslim-majority nation.
Oriana chose not to marry or pursue a career in order to care for her paralyzed mother. When ISIS forced them from their home in Qaraqosh, they left everything behind. Sadly, Oriana’s mother passed away while they were displaced, and then when Oriana's daughter tried to return to their home, she found a mess. There was no money left to repair it.
Samaritan’s Purse stepped in and our staff worked together with local contractors to repair the broken windows, bullet-ridden walls, and electrical wiring in the home. Oriana was grateful and told a Samaritan’s Purse staff member, “You represent Jesus in your heart and your deeds here.” Now she's happily back at home.
So far, Samaritan’s Purse has repaired nearly 700 lightly damaged homes with an average repair cost of $2,500. In addition, we’ve restored nearly 70 heavily damaged homes that average $8000 to complete. Because of the tremendous need, we want to repair more of the heavily damaged and totally destroyed homes. Would you be willing to help more people like Oriana return home?
“Believers have been persecuted. They feel that there’s hate and that they’re unwanted," said Yousif, the Iraqi staff member who manages our rebuild program, Project Nehemiah. "The only thing to connect them with their country is their homes. If they lose their homes, they have nothing to keep them here.
"ISIS tried to take this population and cut their roots. This is the time to support these people."
Please pray that Samaritan’s Purse will be able to rebuild many more homes for persecuted believers and, as a result, encourage an ongoing Christian presence in Iraq.
You can also make a donation by mail. Send to: Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 Related ArticlesHelping Persecuted Christians in Iraq Move Back Home Persecuted Christians Get Help Rebuilding on the Plains of Nineveh More than 200 Displaced Iraqi Families Return Home Samaritan’s Purse Restores Homes of Persecuted Christians in Iraq