Fleeing through Iraq

Fleeing through Iraq

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Threatened by Islamic State militants, thousands of members of Iraq’s Yazidi minority have fled their refuge on Mount Sinjar in recent days, heading to the Syrian border and then north to cross back into Iraq’s Kurdish region.

Thousands more are still on the mountain, sheltering from militants who, according to Iraq’s human rights minister, have killed at least 500 Yazidis during their recent onslaught in the north.

. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

A displaced woman and child from the Yazidi sect cry as they flee towards the Syrian border.

Others who have not been able to escape Islamic State fighters suffered terrible fates, according to Iraq’s human rights minister Mohammed Shiva al-Sudani.

Some victims, including women and children, were buried alive and 300 women were kidnapped as slaves, he said in Baghdad on August 10.

. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Although thousands of Yazidis were able to escape in the past three days with help from Kurdish security forces and others, many were still trapped on the mountain, a U.N. official said on August 11.

In Washington and at the United Nations, officials say they are working on ways to establish a safe corridor to bring all the remaining people off the mountain, but there was no sign this would be created soon.

The Islamic State considers the Yazidis, who follow an ancient faith derived from Zoroastrianism, to be "devil worshippers".

The United States and Britain have air-dropped humanitarian aid in recent days to thousands still on the mountain near the Syrian border.

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Slideshow

Yazidi children, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar, walk towards the Syrian border.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Yazidi children, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar, walk towards the Syrian border.

Others ride a donkey as they make their way across the rough terrain.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Others ride a donkey as they make their way across the rough terrain.

The Yazidis traverse the dry landscape.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

The Yazidis traverse the dry landscape.

Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) help the fleeing Yazidis.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) help the fleeing Yazidis.

A displaced child takes a break on her journey.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

A displaced child takes a break on her journey.

A mother and her child also rest.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

A mother and her child also rest.

Another member of the YPG helps the Yazidis as they flee.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Another member of the YPG helps the Yazidis as they flee.

Members of the Kurdish Red Cresent help a displaced woman from the Yazidi sect.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Members of the Kurdish Red Cresent help a displaced woman from the Yazidi sect.

Other members help a displaced man.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Other members help a displaced man.

Displaced people climb on a truck as they make their way towards the Syrian border.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Displaced people climb on a truck as they make their way towards the Syrian border.

Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) help displaced people.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) help displaced people.

Yazidis ride a truck as they make their way across the desert.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Yazidis ride a truck as they make their way across the desert.

Dust coats a Yazidi man’s face.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Dust coats a Yazidi man’s face.

Displaced people head for the Syrian border.
. NINAWA, Iraq. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Displaced people head for the Syrian border.