On Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, Chaldean Father Thabet Habib Youssef, pastor of the Church of St Addai in the Christian town of Karemles is helping to oversee the repair and reconstruction of homes and Church properties. In 2014, all the Christian families fled within two hours before ISIS moved in and plundered their homes and desecrated the churches.

Since Karemles was liberated by the Iraqi army in 2016, Father Thabet and his team have restored the Sanctuary of St Barbara, the first Christian church in Iraq. “Rebuilding the church is important, it reassures people, because they know they have a place to go and find help. It encourages them to come back”, says Father Thabet.

Today, 330 families have returned to Karemles. With support from ACN, 382 out of 754 Christian homes have been repaired in the town, along with three churches that had been badly damaged. ACN has also helped to improve the water supply and supported local farmers whose land had been destroyed in the conflict.

Your special gift of €1,000 can help cover the cost of repairing or rebuilding a bomb-damaged home for the displaced Christian communities in Iraq and Syria.