Island Of Safety Becomes A Death Trap

Between 10,000 and 40,000 ethnic Yazidis are trapped in the Sinjar Mountains after fleeing attacks by fighters from the Islamic State (IS). The 4,400-foot-high Sinjar range is venerated by the Yazidis. They believe it to be the place where Noah’s ark settled after the biblical flood. The Sinjar Mountains are a barren ridge — four miles wide, 25 miles long and devoid of plant life, water or shade. Read related story.

Sources: UNOCHA, Google Earth. Loveday Morris and Richard Johnson/The Washington Post. Published on August 8, 2014, 10:12 p.m

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/island-of-safety-becomes-a-death-trap/2014/08/08/fdf548a0-1f69-11e4-ae54-0cfe1f974f8a_graphic.html