UNHCR concerned over Iraqi Christians

GENEVA, Switzerland, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The United Nations Friday condemned the attacks on the Christian community in northern Iraq as the number of displaced approaches 10,000.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said around 9,360 people have fled violence in and around the city of Mosul that targeted the Christian community. Reports show several Christian families had received pamphlets or other warnings about their presence in the region.

"One of those interviewed witnessed the killing of a Christian Iraqi on the street, while several of the displaced told us they had received printed threats at the university campus, in their homes and through text messages on their mobile phones," UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond said in a statement.

The spokesman said most of the displaced Christians are reluctant to return to their homes without security guarantees from local authorities. Iraqi Prime Minster Nouri al-Maliki dispatched thousands of Iraqi police to the region to try to restore security to the area.

Redmond said UNHCR officials and other international aid agencies had delivered humanitarian supplies to more than 800 families in the region. UNHCR said it has sent 10 field missions to areas around Mosul to monitor the situation of the displaced.