Êzîdî people continue fighting hunger, poverty and cold as they still maintain their lives on Mount Shengal since the massacre perpetrated by savage ISIS gangs against their community in Shengal town in South Kurdistan last year. The people say it is only PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party) that is helping them.

'WE HAVE NOTHING SUITABLE FOR WINTER'

A woman by the name of Naam İlas told the followings as to what they are going through at the moment; "One year has passed since the massacre. We spent last winter and this summer under challenging circumstances of cold and hot weather. There is no difficulty we haven't faced since. And now, winter lies ahead of us and our children have neither clothes nor shoes to wear. We have somehow managed to overcome the challenges but we are still in need of basic things to meet the winter. We want those who hear us to help us. We have no firewood or fuel, which makes us feel worried and sad as the urgent needs of us and our children have yet to be met. I am calling on the world to help the people living on the mountain here."

'IT IS ONLY PKK THAT HELPED US'

İlas underlined that it was only PKK guerrillas that helped them during all the difficult days they have been through so far, adding; "Our children died from the cold last winter. Hunger, poverty and cold brought along diseases. There was no doctor or medicine, because of which dozens of children died of cold. We need help now as we don't want our remaining children to die. Poverty and cold is killing those whom ISIS couldn't massacre. We want people to help us and to stop pretending not to see us. We suffered a big massacre. ISIS kidnapped our girls, tried to destroy our religion and blew up our sacred places. We hope the states to hear us will lend a helping hand to us. We need doctor, medicine, stove, pullover and supplies to survive the winter. We are just defending our religion like every other folk. We have never harmed anyone."

'PKK MET OUR NEEDS'

Another civilian by the name of İlyas Qero recalled that the massacre perpetrated by ISIS was the 74th one suffered by the Êzîdî community in their history. He told that they were about to die of thirst and hunger when they could eventually managed to take shelter on the mountain and had only some bread to eat.

Qero also stated that it was only PKK fighters that helped them, adding; "Guerrillas met our needs such as clothing, tents and blankets to seek shelter from the cold. We managed to handle the cold weather thanks to the things they gave to us to protect ourselves from the perishing cold last winter. PKK gave us patience. However, we have nothing ahead of the approaching winter and cold, no clothes, no tents, no woods. We want help."

'I DO NOT KNOW HOW WE WILL SURVIVE THIS WINTER'

Esmer Qero voiced concerns about their circumstances by saying that; "I do not know how we will survive this winter."

A youth by the name of Hadi Hesen called for solidarity with the Êzîdî community to overcome the problems they still face.

Another Êzîdî woman by the name of Emşe Reşo Kasım said; "The days we went through last winter very very hard. The summer was pretty easier in comparison with the winter. We are not ready to meet this winter though. We lack basic stuff to overcome it and we want help."