Journalism of Courage
While the U.S. and Iraqi militaries struggle to aid the starving members of Iraq's Yazidi minority with supply drops from the air, the Syrian Kurds are their new heroes. (Source: AP)
Syrian Kurds took it on themselves to rescue Yazidis -- a sign of how Syrias Kurds -- like Iraqs -- are using the regions conflicts to establish their own rule. (Source: AP)
The Yazidis who follow an ancient Mesopotamian faith, started to flee to the Sinjar mountain chain when ISIL militants took over their nearby villages. The militants see them as heretics worthy of death. (Source: AP)
Many Yazidis said they hadn't eaten for days on the mountain; their lips were cracked from dehydration and heat, their feet swollen and blackened from walking. (Source: AP)
Families had filled the battered, dusty tents here and new arrivals sat in the shade of rocks, sleeping on blue plastic sheets. (Source: AP)
Camp officials estimated that at least 2,000 families sought shelter there on Sunday evening. (Source: AP)
Some elderly, disabled and young children were left behind. Others were still walking to where Syrian Kurds were rescuing them, they said. (Source: AP)
Syria's Kurds clashed with IS fighters upon entering Iraq, losing at least 9 fighters, but by Aug. 7 had secured a safe valley passage, cramming Yazidis into trucks and cars to bring them some 25 miles away. (Source: AP)
