Reconstruction of the town of Tell Askuf

TELL-ASZKUF TELEPÜLÉS ÚJJÁÉPÍTÉSE

TELL-ASZKUF TELEPÜLÉS ÚJJÁÉPÍTÉSE

TELL-ASZKUF TELEPÜLÉS ÚJJÁÉPÍTÉSE

TELL-ASZKUF TELEPÜLÉS ÚJJÁÉPÍTÉSE

The town of Tell Askuf in northern Iraq, which was captured by ISIS in 2014 and suffered extensive damage during the fighting, played a central role in the lives of local Christian communities before the war. During the terrorist group's devastation and the subsequent liberation war, part of the town was destroyed, leaving ruins where homes once stood, and the majority of the population fled their homeland. Despite ISIS's military defeat and the town’s liberation, most of the displaced residents were unable to return, as normal life was impossible amidst the rubble. To ensure the basic conditions for the return of the displaced families, the Chaldean Catholic Church of Babylon, with Hungarian support, rebuilt the damaged homes, community buildings, and the local church. Thanks to this support, more than 600 heavily damaged homes were made habitable, and community facilities were also reopened with the help of Hungary. As part of the support, five schools damaged during the fighting underwent renovations, and the donation contributed to the restoration of community infrastructure, including the kindergarten, cemetery, and the St. George Church, which had been destroyed by ISIS. In the neighboring Christian villages of Bakofa, 41 family homes were made habitable, while in Batnaya, 42 homes were restored. As a result of the project, 1,000 out of the 1,300 Christian families who were displaced from Tell Askuf during the war have now returned to their homes. In recognition of the assistance, the locals have since referred to the town as the "Daughter of Hungary."