Shingal Reconstruction Fund Gets Boost from Japan | Persecution

04/12/2020 Iraq (International Christian Concern) – Japan has made the decision to contribute $3.6 million to support the reconstruction of Iraq’s Shingal, also known as Sinjar, in conjunction with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. The funds are intended for the reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts in Iraq post-ISIS and is supposed to specifically target those who have not received any support for the reconstruction of their homes. Before the rise of ISIS, Sinjar was home to the Yazidis, an ethnic-religious minority group. ISIS committed mass genocide against the Yazidis, killing the men and sexually enslaving the women, before moving into the Christian areas of the Nineveh Governorate. By that point, it had become clear that ISIS was targeting all religious minorities for genocide and that both Christians and Yazidis were the primary victims. Reconstruction of these areas post-ISIS have faced a number of difficulties, one being the massive financial cost of rebuilding. The local authorities frequently stated that there are not enough funds to address reconstruction. Some places, like Qeraqosh and East Mosul, have seen significant reconstruction. Others, like Sinjar and Telskuf, have struggled to reach the same level of reconstruction. The reasons for this are more than just monetary, as competing local militias often cause challenges for rebuilding.