Sema
The discovery of mass graves continues to shed light on the scale of the atrocities committed.
The Office for the Rescue of Kidnapped Yezidis announced on Sunday, that 2,558 Yezidis remain missing, with their fate still unknown.
According to statistics verified by UN-recognized sources, Iraq’s Yezidi population stood at 550,000 before the Islamic State (ISIS) launched its attack on Aug. 3, 2014.
Currently, 135,860 displaced Yezidis reside in camps within the Kurdistan Region, while another 189,337 are scattered across various areas in the region. The death toll from ISIS’s genocide has surpassed 5,000, with 2,745 Yezidi orphans recorded.
The discovery of mass graves continues to shed light on the scale of the atrocities committed. So far, 93 mass graves have been found in Sinjar, in addition to numerous individual burial sites.
ISIS’s Legacy of Destruction
ISIS systematically targeted Yezidi religious and cultural sites, destroying 68 shrines and holy places. The conflict forced approximately 120,000 Yezidis to flee Iraq, seeking refuge in other countries.
The statistics further reveal that ISIS abducted 6,417 Yezidis, including 3,548 females and 2,869 males. To date, 3,585 of them have been rescued—1,211 women, 339 men, 1,074 girls, and 961 boys.
Still Missing and Awaiting Justice
Among the kidnapped victims, 274 were found in mass graves and returned to their families—37 of them female and 237 males. However, 2,558 individuals remain unaccounted for, including 1,225 females and 1,333 males. The ongoing search efforts underscore the urgent need for accountability, justice, and continued global attention to the plight of the Yezidi community.