United Nations Headquarters New York (August 16, 2014) — Following a two-day visit with Bishop Sarhad Jammo and Bishop Francis of Iraq’s Chaldean American Community, leading a delegation of Iraqi Christian representatives and community leaders from throughout the United States, the UN passed a resolution regarding Iraq and Syria.

The delegation also included, Auday Arabo, Mark Arabo, Joseph Kassab, and Sam Yono.

The UN noted that as the militants, particularly ISIL, have over the past two months, carried out deadly attacks in Iraq and Syria, the Council unanimously adopted a United Kingdom-led resolution noting grave concern at “the negative impact of their violent extremist ideology and actions on the stability of the region, the devastating humanitarian impact on the civilian populations and the role of these groups in fomenting sectarian tensions.”

The Chaldean delegation met with United Nation’s Deputy Secretary- General Jan Eliasson in New York.

“This immediate resolution demonstrates the impact our delegation made at the UN,” said Bishop Francis. “We clearly made the case that Iraq is in a crisis as we met with UN officials, including the Deputy Secretary General.”

“We were well received and welcomed at every meeting we attended with UN officials and missions from various countries,” said Auday Arabo, spokesperson for the St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese based in Michigan. “It is no coincidence that the UN acted so swiftly following the meetings—declaring a level 3 emergency as well as the passage of the security resolution sanctioning ISIS and terrorist forces, which passed unanimously.”

“We are thankful that many countries in the world including UN members, which are nearly 200 have spoken and have recognized what is going in Iraq are crimes against humanity. However, we would like to see more from the United States of America,” said Arabo.

In addition, the Chaldeans in Detroit have reached out to ten countries around the world where Chaldean churches are established. “We hope these countries welcome displaced Chaldeans into their countries because the situation in Iraq is dire,” said Bishop Francis.

According the UN, ongoing turmoil in northern Iraq has led the UN to designate its highest level emergency – “Level 3” – for the resultant humanitarian crisis, citing the scale and complexity of the situation, which is impacting tens of thousands of people that have been forcefully displaced by the armed group, Islamic State.

In its resolution, the Security Council deplored and condemned in the strongest terms “the terrorist acts of ISIL and its violent extremist ideology, and its continued gross, systematic and widespread abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.”

The Council, observing that that ISIL is “a splinter group” of Al-Qaida, recalled that ISIL and Al-Nusra Front are included on the Al-Qaida sanctions list and, as such, expressed readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings and entities providing support to ISIL or to Al-Nusra Front, “including those who are financing, arming, planning or recruiting for [those groups] and all [Al-Qaida associates] through information and communications technologies including the internet and social media or through any other means.”

Demanding that ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals and groups associated with Al-Qaida cease all violence and terrorist acts and disband, the Council called on all UN Members States to take national measures to “suppress the flow of foreign terrorist fighters,” bring them to justice and engage with those at risk of being recruited to discourage travel to Syria and Iraq.

It also reaffirmed that States shall prevent the direct or indirect supply sale or transfer to ISIL and Al-Nusra and associated individuals and groups, of arms and related materials. The Council also notes with concern that oilfields and related infrastructure controlled by ISIL and Al-Nusra are generating income which support their recruitment efforts and strengthen their operational capability to organize and carry out terrorist attacks.

Recalling that the asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo requirements in paragraph 1 of its resolution 2161 (2014) apply to ISIL, Al-Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, the Council directed the team tasked with monitoring violations of those sanctions to report “within 90 days on the threat, including to the region, posed by [ISIL and Al-Nusra], their sources of arms, funding, recruitment and demographics, and recommendations for additional action to address the threat.”

Annexed to the Council’s resolution are the names of the six individuals added to the Al-Qaida sanctions list.

A relief fund has been set up. Those who want to help can go to www.helpiraq.org

Media Contact:

Vanessa Denha Garmo, Denha Media Group | Vanessa@denhamedia.com or 248.830.8605

Spokesperson, Auday Arabo 248. 820.6411