Iraq situation is nearing humanitarian catastrophe: US

Describing as deeply disturbing the persecution of religious minorities in Iraq by Islamic jihadists, the US today said the situation in the country is nearing a humanitarian catastrophe.
The US strongly condemns ISIL's assault on Sinjar and surrounding areas of northern Iraq, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.
"These actions have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis, and the situation is nearing a humanitarian catastrophe," he added.
However, President Barack Obama has not taken any decision on the kind of action he would take or is contemplating to address this deteriorating humanitarian situation in Iraq, his spokesperson said.
"I'm not in a position to provide a great deal of insight into any sort of the decisions the president may or may not be contemplating at this point," Earnest told reporters.

"The President is keenly aware of the dire humanitarian situation that exists. The President has been in touch with his national security team this morning here at the White House. The President is aware of the kinds of assessments that are being made by American military personnel who are on the ground and staffing these joint operation centers, both in Irbil and Baghdad," he said in response to s question.

Tens of thousands of innocent civilians are reported to have been displaced, fleeing persecution, he said adding that the US is gravely concerned for their health and safety, including the vulnerable ethnic and religious minority communities who have been specifically targeted by ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).

"The cold and calculated manner in which ISIL has targeted defenceless Iraqis, like the Yazidis and Christians, solely because of their ethnic and religious identity, demonstrates a callous disregard for human rights, and it is deeply disturbing," he said.
"We're concerned about the welfare of the large community of Iraqi Yizidis who are stranded on Mt Sinjar without food, water, or shelter and the Iraqi Christians who have been forced to flee from their villages in the region. We're deeply concerned about reports that ISIL has abducted as many as several hundred girls from these vulnerable communities," he said.
The United States, he said, is working intensively with Iraqi security forces and Kurdish authorities in the immediate area to support their efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Sinjar.