While the Obama Administration and the Department of Defense continues to “assess” the situation around Sinjar and northern Iraq, tens of thousands of people have fled into the mountains with no food or water and are dying as you read this.

The Yazidi people are one of the world’s oldest religious minorities and is, for the most part, ethnically Kurdish. The Yazidis number approximately a half million people and have been living peacefully under the protection of Kurdish peshmerga forces for years.

The Islamic State accuses the Yazidi people of being “devil worshipers” and its fighters have been executing Yazidi men who won’t convert to Islam on the spot, and taking away the women as jihadi brides.

In a recent New Yorker article, writer George Packer tells the compelling story of Karim, an Yazidi man struggling to survive in Iraq. The insight revealed is compelling.

The Islamic State has also advanced into some of the Kurdish regions near Erbil, which will come under protection of the United States in addition to the Kurdish Peshmaega forces.

The US will authorize targeted air strikes against the Islamic State and will drop humanitarian aid to the civilians who have fled heavily affected areas including the Sinjar Mountains. Obama clearly states American troops will not be involved in any fighting in Iraq. The US also insists that a unity government is crucial to stability in Iraq, and asks that the new Prime Minister be named by Sunday, as it is appropriate for the Iraqi government to do so at this time following their elections.

Erbil is a town in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, It is also home to the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Consulate General. The U.S. Consulate General in Erbil opened in July 2011 and is responsible for promoting U.S. political, economic, cultural, and security cooperation with the Iraqi people in the three provinces of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region: Erbil, Sulymaniyah, and Dohuk. The U.S. diplomatic presence throughout Iraq is guided by the Strategic Framework Agreement for a Relationship of Friendship and Cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Iraq, which, since its signing in 2008, serves as the foundation for a long-term bilateral relationship based on mutual goals.

Our greatest concern and sense of urgency is heightened by the plight of the Yazidis. We also hold deep concern for the Kurds as well as the people of Iraq as the Islamic State presents the most disruptive threat to the entire Middle East region possible. Devoid of value of human life, this sect of terrorists will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Occupy World Writes supports the call of the Iraqi MP that pleaded with the Iraqi Parliment to prevent the genocide of the Yazidis. We can not say better what is said here.