Peshmerga forces
Reuters looks at the strength and history of the Kurdish militia force, whose name literally means "those who confront death." The Peshmerga number around 200,000. But after years of being outgunned and untested, the force is struggling to halt the advances of IS fighters in Iraq's north.
Jihadist propaganda
Extremist groups have reportedly been handing out leaflets in London encouraging British Muslims to join IS. Police are examining whether the distribution of the leaflets breaches anti-terror laws. The BBC has this interesting video report.
Situation on Mount Sanjir still desperate
Kurdish officials and Yazidi refugees have said that thousands of desperate Yazidis remain trapped on Mount Sanjir despite the Pentagon backing away from launching a rescue mission to save them.
Farhad Atruchi, governor of the Kurdistan’s Dahuk province, where most of the Yazidis have fled, told the "Washington Post" that he disagreed with the Pentagon's assessment:
“For me, this is not correct. I don’t know the exact number, whether it is 10,000 or 15,000 or 5,000, but they are there. Everyone knows that under the sun, the heat, these people are suffering, and still the international community is not moving. What will happen is that they will die, especially the children, the kids.”
Situation improving on Mount Sanjir
Ben Rhodes, the deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications & Speechwriting, says situation on Mount Sanjir is improving. He mirrors the assessment of American officials who recently visited Sanjir, where thousands of Yazadis are believed to be stranded.
UN agencies
UN agencies have been working around the clock for the past two weeks. Here is a summary of what the various agencies have been doing:
-- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reached 166,000 people. Since August 1, it provided shelter and relief items to 30,000 people in the Kurdistan region, including those escaping Mount Sinjar.
-- World Food Programme (WFP) has established 4 field kitchens and is feeding over 100,000 people per day, totalling over 1.6 million meals in Dahuk Governorate.
-- United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has moved 30 truckloads of relief supplies closer to areas where displaced people are arriving. In total, 60 tons of emergency aid are prepared. UNICEF has delivered aid to 73,000 children, women and their families.
-- World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting local health authorities in the field, with two mobile health teams on Mount Sinjar and emergency relief at Pesh Khabur, where 16 ambulances are transporting those arriving, and mobile clinics providing emergency health care to the displaced across Dahuk Governorate.
-- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working to distribute hygiene supplies and clothing to over 1,300 pregnant women as well as medical supplies to support 150,000 people.
-- International Organization for Migration (IOM) is transporting IDPs from affected areas to agreed safe areas. Over the last 48 hours, 2,121 IDPs have been provided with transportation. Between 4 and 12 August, IOM reached 15,000 beneficiaries.
Changes
KRG President Visits Frontlines