Aid groups in Iraq anticipate influx of refugees from Mosul

Many people have already fled Mosul after more than a week of fighting to recapture the city from ISIS. Aid groups in the nearby regions are expecting more refugees as the battle drags on.

Iraqi forces have recently evacuated more than 1,000 people who are living near the front lines of the battle. According to the International Organization for Migration, about 9,000 people have been displaced since the operation began.

There are some concerns that the influx could overwhelm the resources of the aid groups working in the surrounding areas. There are also apprehensions about the safety of those who are fleeing and some are worried that ISIS fighters might be mixed with the refugees.

Steve Van Valkenburg of Christian Aid Group told Mission Network News that despite the concerns, the objective of Christians who are trying to spread the Gospel in the region remains the same.

He stated that Christian Aid regularly sends aid to its partners and it will be sending even more to help the ministries who are trying to meet the needs of displaced Iraqis.

"I think the one advantage they have is they're not concerned about who the people are, where they come from, why they stayed in Mosul, why they didn't flee before. All they want to know is how can we help and how can we share the love of Christ with them?" he added.

Van Valkenburg believes that some of the Iraqis might become atheists after living under the control of ISIS. However, he is also confident that there will be some who will open their hearts to Christ.

"There is something the Body of Christ can present that other agencies can't present, because they can present aid, but also they can be meeting emotional needs, spiritual needs in a way that other agencies can't — the UN can't do that, typical NGOs can't do that, governments can't do that," he stated.

The aid worker said that the people who are fleeing are hardened, bitter and hopeless and the only hope for them lies in Jesus Christ.