** Read our latest update from 15 August – Overwhelmed by need: Christian refugees flood Kurdistan

Iraq’s largest Christian city, Qaraqosh was captured overnight by The Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), forcing thousands more Christians to flee. The city was home to around 50,000 Christians. Other Christian towns including Tel Kerif, Tel Askof and Qaramless have all reportedly been emptied of Christians and other minority groups.

The extremists have made it “within striking distance” of Kurdistan, according to news reports, the autonomous region in northern Iraq where many Christians have fled after being driven out of their homes over the past three weeks. The BBC reports that up to a quarter of Iraq’s Christians are now on the run.

The Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk, Joseph Thomas called last night’s events a Christian “catastrophe”. The United Nations have said that other minorities, including Yazidis, an ancient religious community, have also been forced to flee. Thousands of Yazidis fled to the mountains behind the town of Sinjar and there they remain, waiting for rescue.

The Guardian reports that those who remain in the cities have been the given “the same stark choice” as those in Mosul: flee, convert to Islam, or be killed.

Three weeks ago the Christians of Mosul (the city next to the ruins of ancient Nineveh) were given the ultimatum: convert, pay a tax of $400 a month (more than they can afford), leave or die. All who could leave, fled. After 2,000 years ancient Nineveh no longer has a Christian community.

Now many are on the move again. The Islamic State movement is now sweeping through the plains of Nineveh province, the traditional refuge for Christians.

A Bible Society team in Iraq is still on the ground in this dangerous situation, providing food, hygiene and Scriptures to the Christians of Northern Iraq. They have appealed to Bible Societies around the world to help.

This is an unusual project for a Bible Society, normally focused on making the Bible available. But as the only Iraqi-run Christian organisation in the region, our brothers and sisters have felt impelled to help. They are providing aid packages and Scriptures to the Christian refugees.

Dr Mike Bassous, General Secretary of Bible Society Lebanon which oversees work in Iraq, says, “Every few years, Iraqi Christians are displaced and forced to leave their homes. They are a marginalised, peaceful minority who have paid the highest price in Iraq’s instability over the past two decades. They need all the support we can provide. Our team in Iraq has been providing physical and spiritual support to the displaced families to ease their anxiety and provide temporary comfort and encouragement.”

This Bible Society presence means Australian Christians can do something for the Christians who have fled their homes in Iraq.

You can donate to the cause of providing practical help to the Christian refugees in Northern Iraq at biblesociety.org.au/nineveh or by ringing 1300 BIBLES (1300 242 537) during office hours.