Displaced Iraqis Celebrate Christmas in Abandoned Shopping Mall
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World Food Programme(ERBIL, Iraq) — Thousands of Iraqi Christians seeking shelter in an unfinished shopping mall are trying to make the most of Christmas this year, hanging threadbare decorations even as the floors are flooded and the walls are non-existent.
Days before the holiday, a makeshift nativity scene is put into place, colored lights in the shape of a Christmas tree light up a refrigerator door and “Merry Christmas” signs are ready to be hung.
Video shows what life is like for the people, mostly from Mosul, now forced to live at the Ankawa shopping mall in Erbil, after fleeing from militant attacks.
The footage was provided by the World Food Programme, which provides the refugees food and estimates around 1,600 people are taking shelter in the mall.
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