Christians in Gaza, a religious minority, are celebrating Christmas amid the ongoing Israeli blockade and the difficult living conditions resulting from it. The community, which has dwindled from around 3000 to 1200, faces high unemployment and poverty. Despite the festive period, there is a strong sentiment of resistance and a desire for a return to their ancestral homes among the Christian refugees. The article conveys a message from the community to the international audience, emphasizing their lack of rights and the need for a peaceful resolution to their situation.

Heavy rains in North Africa and the Middle East have caused severe flooding, with a significant impact on the Sahrawi refugee community in Algeria’s Tindouf province. Over 165,000 Western Sahrawi refugees, with 90,000 under UNHCR care, have been affected, with 5,000 families suffering direct consequences. The refugees, who fled the Western Sahara War in 1975-76, live in vulnerable shelters, and the recent rains have destroyed homes, hospitals, and schools. The UNHCR has launched an urgent appeal for funds, but faces a significant budget shortfall. Refugees like Fatima Omar and Mohamed Fadal have lost their homes and are living in tents, facing an uncertain future with limited resources to rebuild.

Syrian refugees in Donetsk, Ukraine, such as Abdelsattar Nassar and Khaled Sijer, have found themselves caught in a new conflict after fleeing the Syrian civil war. Nassar's Shisha House Cafe is one of the few businesses still open in the city, but he feels guilt and fear for his family's safety. Sijer, who also fled Syria, runs a small restaurant and has decided to stay in Donetsk to support his family back in Syria. Despite a ceasefire, the war in East Ukraine continues to claim lives and cause destruction, leaving these refugees trapped in another warzone.

St. Matthew's Monastery, one of Iraq's oldest Christian monasteries, is under threat from the Islamic State, which is less than four miles away. The monastery is currently under Kurdish peshmerga control, and monks have moved their most precious relics for safety. The Islamic State's recent capture of Palmyra raises concerns about the potential destruction of the monastery. Monks and students remain at the monastery, despite the danger, to preserve their history and heritage.

Civilians in Kirkuk, Iraq, including Abdelwahab al Akray, have been severely affected by airstrikes, which they attribute to the Iraqi government rather than the Islamic State. Human Rights Watch has documented indiscriminate attacks by Iraqi forces. The conflict has exacerbated sectarian tensions between Sunnis and Shiites, with Sunni civilians feeling targeted. Despite a change in leadership from Nouri al-Maliki to Haider al-Abadi, accusations of government-led airstrikes on civilian areas persist. Prime Minister al-Abadi's statement to parliament has raised concerns among human rights organizations. Civilians, trapped between ISIS and government forces, have been displaced and many have lost family members due to the violence.

Johan Cosar, an Assyrian Christian from Switzerland, leads the Martyr Obdar Company and co-founded the Syriac Military Council (MFS), an Assyrian militia in Syria's al-Hasakah province. The MFS, with 800 fighters, collaborates with the Kurdish YPG to defend against the Islamic State, which has kidnapped Assyrian civilians and destroyed Christian villages. The MFS aims to protect Assyrian identity and secure political representation in post-war Syria. The article highlights the challenges faced by Assyrians, an ethnic minority, in asserting their identity and rights amidst the Syrian civil war.

Johan Cosar, an Assyrian Christian from Switzerland, leads the Martyr Obdar Company and co-founded the Syriac Military Council (MFS), an Assyrian militia in Syria's al-Hasakah province. The MFS, with 800 fighters, collaborates with the Kurdish YPG to defend against the Islamic State, which has kidnapped Assyrian civilians and destroyed Christian villages. The MFS aims to protect Assyrian identity and secure political representation in post-war Syria. The article highlights the challenges faced by Assyrians, an ethnic minority, in asserting their identity and rights amidst the Syrian civil war.

Yazidi militia force, the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), comprising 600 fighters, has emerged on Mount Sinjar as a response to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Yazidis by ISIL. The YBS, supported by the Yazidi Democratic Movement (TEVDA), is seen as a step towards Yazidi autonomy and self-protection, especially after the withdrawal of Kurdish Peshmerga forces. The Yazidis, who have faced severe persecution by ISIL, are now organizing their own defence and considering the establishment of an autonomous region. The YBS trains with the YPG and PKK, and its presence signifies a shift in the Yazidi community's relationship with the Kurds and their desire for self-governance.

Yazidis on Mount Sinjar, Iraq, have formed the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS) to defend their homeland against ISIS, who captured the city of Sinjar six months prior, leading to a UN-declared attempted genocide. The YBS, trained by the YPG and PKK, are part of a displaced community that has resisted leaving the mountain. Political leaders among the Yazidis are considering the creation of an autonomous region, with the YBS as its defense force. The Yazidis' history of persecution and the recent abandonment by Peshmerga troops have fueled their desire for self-protection. Despite the ongoing conflict, there is a sense of hope and purpose among the Yazidis for a return to normalcy and self-governance.

The Islamic State (IS) has targeted the Yazidi population, capturing and enslaving an estimated 5,000 Yazidi women. Nawroz, an 18-year-old Yazidi woman, was one of those captured and subjected to horrific abuse. However, she was eventually rescued through the efforts of Khalif and Mardini, two Muslim Kurds from Sinjar, who have developed a network to smuggle individuals out of IS territory. Despite the dangers and the high cost of these rescue operations, Khalif and Mardini have successfully rescued 151 people, with plans to continue their mission. Nawroz's harrowing story highlights the brutality of IS and the resilience of those working to reunite broken families.