Christians, Yazidis Need More Than Escape: Catholic Relief Official in Iraq | Sojourners

Christians, Yazidis Need More Than Escape: Catholic Relief Official in Iraq

Catholic Relief Services head of programming Kris Ozar. Image courtesy Hawre Kha
Catholic Relief Services head of programming Kris Ozar. Image courtesy Hawre Khalid/Catholic Relief Services

Kris Ozar, 37, is in charge of programming for Catholic Relief Services in Egypt and is now in northern Iraq coordinating the charity’s emergency efforts with other groups, such as Caritas Iraq. He has been working with Christians and Yazidis forced to choose between conversion to Islam or death by the Islamic State.

Ozar spoke with Religion News Service’s Kimberly Winston from Irbil, Iraq, about the challenges refugees face. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: The Christian and Yazidi refugees have been rescued from Mount Sinjar. What is the situation where you are right now?

A: From my window, I can see a church compound and it is filled with tents and there are hundreds of people inside those tents. Everyone talked about getting (the displaced people) off Mount Sinjar, and that was an amazing challenge, but what we forget is that the most amazing challenge lies ahead.

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