(AINA) -- An Assyrian delegation met with John Baird, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, today to discuss the crisis facing the Assyrians in North Iraq, who are being persecuted by the Islamic State (ISIS). The Assyrian delegation included Ashur Sargon Eskrya, the president of the Assyrian Aid Society of Iraq, Ms. Renya Benjamen and Dr. Ramzi Benyamen. The meeting addressed the genocide taking place in Iraq at the hands of ISIS, which has driven 200,000 Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) and 100,000 Yazidis from their homes, destroyed all churches in Mosul and killed thousands of Yazidis and Assyrians.
The delegation stressed the immediate need for humanitarian aid for the Assyrians and Yazidis refugees, to be channeled through local NGOs in North Iraq.
See Timeline of ISIS in North Iraq
Thousands of Yazidis have died on Shingal mountain, where they have been taking refuge for 7 days since ISIS captured the town of Sinjar.
The Assyrian refugees who fled to Dohuk and Ankawa are now beginning to run out of water, and there is a threat of a cholera outbreak.
The Assyrian delegates also discussed Canada's support in establishing a safe haven in the Nineveh Plain for the Assyrian Christians, Yazidis and other minorities in Iraq, which would allow them to return to their homes and, when the ISIS danger is removed, govern themselves.
Mr. Baird welcomed the delegation and stressed Canada's concern for Iraq's minorities and Canada's role in protecting religious minorities. He said that Canada is treating this issue with the greatest urgency and plans to follow up with the delegation's request.
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