Yezidi mother in Canada hopes to reunite with son she thought was dead

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A Yezidi mother who is now residing in Canada hopes that she can reunite with her 12-years-old son whom she thought was dead after they were separated three years ago when ISIS attacked the Yezidis in and around Shingal.

Canadian authorities stated that they are aware of the case. 

Several Yezidi advocacy groups have also begun a campaign to reunite the family as quickly as possible. One such group is the Jewish organization, Winnipeg Friends of Israel which has a running  campaign called Operation Ezra.

Iraqi security forces rescued Emad Mishko several days ago after the liberation of Mosul from ISIS, and then shared his picture on social media believing that it would help in tracking down his family.

Emad’s uncle, living at a displaced camp in the Kurdistan Region, saw the photo on social media on Sunday, Canadian media reported. He then called Emad’s mother who is now living in Canada with four of her six children.

Emad’s mother, Nofa Zaghla, "was jumping, crying at the same time, just happiness," said Hadji Hesso with the Yazidi Association of Manitoba, BBC reported.

In a video sent to his mother, Emad is heard saying in English "Canada please help me. I want to go to Canada with my mom."

Zaghla had been under ISIS captivity for two years before she was able to escape following an explosion caused by an airstrike. She then lived for a year in a displaced camp in the Kurdistan Region before leaving to Canada several months ago.

Global News quoted her as saying that her younger children were able to stay with her during captivity, but that she had lost track of her two older sons and husband early on as they were separated.

She feared that Emad was dead judging on what ISIS has done to so many Yezidis since August 2014 when they initiated genocide against the religious community.

The Yazidi Association of Manitoba, in partnership with the Kurdish Initiative for Refugees, Winnipeg Friends of Israel and the Liberation of Christian and Yazidi Children of Iraq (CYCI), has launched an advocacy and fundraising campaign to help reunite Emad with his family in Canada.

Emad is said to be living at a displaced camp in the Kurdistan Region and is receiving treatment for injuries he has sustained.

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via Defense News