From mass graves to mass displacement: legacy of Sinjar massacre

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The 10th anniversary of the Yezidi massacre and the ISIS attack on Sinjar district is approaching.

In 2014, ISIS attacked Sinjar, displacing more than 250,000 residents and uncovering about 90 mass graves in the aftermath.

"More than 6,000 houses were damaged in Sinjar district due to ISIS attacks," reports indicate.

The nearly decade-long period since this assault marks one of the most egregious terrorist attacks on civilians, leading to widespread displacement and thousands of deaths and disappearances.

On August 3, 2014, ISIS terrorists launched an assault on Sinjar, a district with a population of approximately 500,000 at the time.

The attack displaced around 250,000 people, predominantly Yezidis, with 50,000 fleeing to Mount Sinjar, where they were besieged by ISIS forces.

Following the liberation of Sinjar, about 183,000 refugees have not returned due to ongoing security concerns, lack of services, and inadequate livelihoods.

The massacre resulted in the deaths of about 3,000 individuals, with 6,000 Yezidi women and children kidnapped by ISIS.

During the siege of Mount Sinjar, ISIS massacred residents in at least six villages, most notably in Kocho, where approximately 400 people were killed. In the village of Hardan, ISIS terrorists killed between 250 and 300 people.

Post-liberation efforts have led to the discovery of numerous mass graves, totaling 89. Additionally, ISIS's control over Sinjar resulted in the burning and damaging of approximately 6,000 houses in the district.