Heart Wrenching Human Tragedy All Over In Iraq

The barren structures of an unfinished hi-rise in Dohuk have become a shelter for people who not long ago lived normal lives. There are more than 1.2 million Iraqis displaced because of the fighting in the country, and each family has a harrowing story to tell.

Over a thousand or more from the Yazidi minority are still trapped on the south side of Sinjar Mountain. Those who managed to escape endured a gruelling and harrowing journey.

For Hamad, home was a farm in Sinjar, where he and his 15 family members lived.

When fighting reached his community, Hamad fled with his family to the mountains.

After seven long days, crossing treacherous, stony terrain and eating a handful of boiled wheat a day, exhaustion caught up with the elderly.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
"My mother was with us, no food, exhaustion, a lot of walking, high steep roads. We come down one hill, up the next. Finally she said to us 'that's it I can't do it'. My two sons tried to carry her but couldn't. She was mentally still strong, she said to us 'my sons please go, I am going to die sooner or later, why stay and die with me'. We refused to leave without her, after few hours of thirst, hunger and exhaustion she fell and passed away, may god rest her soul." a displaced Iraqi Yazidi Hamad said.

Fearing the rest of the family would face the same fate, Hamad made the hard decision to keep walking.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
"We never got to bury her. If we get a chance to go back I will look for her, her body, her bones, anything. A mother is the most precious thing. We were worried that children and other young people with us would die, and we could do nothing but leave her there, who can bear leaving their mother or father like this?" Hamad added.

Hamad and his family walked for seven hours to reach safety.

Looking back, Hamad finds it hard to contemplate a return to his home, even if it becomes safe to do so.

More than 70 thousand Yazadis have made it to safety.

Hamad's story is just one of many.

SHOTLIST:
13 AUGUST 2014, DOHUK, IRAQ

Unfinished building structures
Displaced taking donations up to the building
Various shots, IDPs inside the building
Hamad walking up the stairs
Woman and children sitting down
Hamad wearing headscarf
Building
Various shots, Hamad talking to family members
Refugee woman dressing a baby
Refugee woman lying on mattress
Two displaced men sitting down
Building
Young woman sleeping
Displaced children
IDP family
Building

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
"My mother was with us, no food, exhaustion, a lot of walking, high steep roads. We come down one hill, up the next. Finally she said to us 'that's it I can't do it'. My two sons tried to carry her but couldn't. She was mentally still strong, she said to us 'my sons please go, I am going to die sooner or later, why stay and die with me'. We refused to leave without her, after few hours of thirst, hunger and exhaustion she fell and passed away, may god rest her soul."

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
"We never got to bury her. If we get a chance to go back I will look for her, her body, her bones, anything. A mother is the most precious thing. We were worried that children and other young people with us would die, and we could do nothing but leave her there, who can bear leaving their mother or father like this?"

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hamad, Displaced Person:
"My feeling towards Sinjar? No way, no way can I go back. How can my eyes see Sinjar again when I witnessed hundreds of people die there?"

DURATION: 02:47