Ten years ago as many as 1.4 million Christians lived in Iraq. Today the number is likely less than 200,000. ISIS has devastated the Christian population, not to mention the terror it perpetrated on the Muslim and Yazidi populations as well. Murder, kidnapping and displacement due to war have decimated the Christian population – a population that dates back to the first century.
Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed legislation that identifies the activities against the Iraqi Christian population as genocide and war crimes. Beyond that, the U.S. government has already appropriated monies to assist these communities to move back into their previous homes and cities. Unfortunately, however, H.R. 390, the broadly bipartisan bill that has already passed the House (and must now pass the Senate), which would direct these already appropriated funds to assist these Christian refugees, appears to be moving through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
There are indications that this bill is being dealt with at a normal pace for the Senate. If this continues, it will likely be too late. Those on the ground in Erbil, the Iraqi city where most of these refugees are living, tell us that we have a window of another 30 days or so to act, or these Christian communities that have existed in Iraq for two millennia may cease to exist.
While we have our fair share of arguments in American political circles about refugees, their plight and what should be done with them, particularly as they find themselves potentially traveling to America, this is not one of those arguments. This is an attempt to recognize that these communities of religious minorities are trying to settle back in their home cities and communities. They want to resettle, but cannot do so because they are refugees, living on less money than we can imagine, and they cannot afford basic staples like food and medicine because of the barbaric activities of groups like ISIS.
This is also not a question of financial means. Our government has already set aside the necessary funds to assist in this effort – funds that make up a fractional portion of our government’s budget. This is a question of channeling the funds that have already been set aside.