Overview of the Kazhir Frontline where a Russian-made T55 tank is positionned toward ISIS lines, a few kilometers away. Kazhir, IRAQ. 27/08/2014.

A chaotic ice distribution takes place at Khazir camp. As temperatures can easily reach 50 degrees during the day and with no air conditioning available, it is not unusually to witness riot-like situations during those distributions. Khazir refugee camp was located near Kelek, a town halfway on the road between Erbil and Mosul. It was home to Iraqi and Arab populations that had fled the ongoing conflict between the Islamic State and Iraq. Ten days after this picture was taken, the camp fell into the hands of the Islamic State. Its population managed to escape unhurt, escorted by the Peshmerga forces. Near Kelek, IRAQ. 25/07/2014.

A Peshmerga soldier restricts access to a humanitarian center while Christian refugees from Mosul show their anger. Since Mosul has fallen to the Islamic State, most of its Christian population was forced out of the city by the Islamists and sought refuge to the nearby Christian town of Qaraqosh located 30 kilometers away. Two weeks after this picture was taken, the Islamists invaded Qaraqosh and its population (including previous refugees from Mosul) was left joining the 150 000 Iraqi Christians fleeing. Qaraqosh, IRAQ. 21/07/2014.

A man waits to receive food coupons inside Saint-Joseph Church where 650 Christian families have taken shelter following an Islamic State offensive. Following an unprecedented ISIS advance into Kurdish controlled territory, Christian populations, mainly from Qaraqosh and its surrounding have been forced to exile and stripped of all their possession. Some of them had previously fled Mosul for Qaraqosh and are being displaced for a second time. The majority of those Christians have set out for Ankawa, the Christian district of Erbil, the Kurdistan territory capital. These people are part of one of the most ancient Christian sect, the Assyrian and have lost any hope to ever find safe haven in Iraq. They are calling Western governments to offer them asylum as their culture faces the danger of extinction. Ankawa, District of Erbil, IRAQ. 09/08/2014.

A Yazidi man puts out a fire that has started inside his family's tent as they were cooking at Delal refugee camp. Delal Refugee camp is located in Zahko, a town that is a few kilometers away from the Turkish Border. The camp sits within walking distance of the city center, overlooking the Delal Bridge over the Euphrates River. It is home to more than 1000 Yazidi families that have fled Sinjar, following an unprecedented ISIS push at the beginning of August 2014. Zakho, IRAQ. 24/08/2014.

Peshmerga officers discuss the recent developments on the Gwer front at the DPK headquarters. Erbil, IRAQ. 08/08/2014.

Portrait of a Peshmerga soldier as seen behind the door of an American MRAP vehicule bearing the physical evidences of the recent fighting with ISIS. Makhmour is a town located 50 kilometers south of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Following an ISIS offensive, the town fell to the Caliphate on the 8th of August. It was taken back by the Peshmerga and PKK fighters on August 10. Makhmour, IRAQ. 18/08/2014.

Local shops, hospitals and Government buildings have been ransacked and burned by ISIS militants in the towns of Gwer and Makhmour. Gwer and Makhmour, IRAQ. 18-20/08/2014

Woman Peshmerga Sharmin Omar of the 2nd Battalion, 24 years old and 4 months pregnant, plays dead during a military exercice. 2nd Battalion, exclusively comprised of 550 female Peshmergas (Kurdish Army soldiers) was implemented in 1996 and is part of the offcial Kurdish national army. It is the only feminine branch of the Kurdish Army. Regiment of the Women Peshmerga, Sulaymaniyah, IRAQ. 29/07/2014.

Peshmerga soldiers play a game of card inside their room at the Kirkuk Peshmerga base located a few kilometers away from the frontline. Kirkuk Front, IRAQ. 24/07/2014.

Peshmerga soldiers and civilian sympathizers display their power in the streets of the capital. As fighting is raging between the Islamic state and the Peshmerga in Gwer, only 40 kilometers separate the forces of the “Caliphate” from Kurdistan's capital city. As the possible fall of Erbil has now become a reality, Peshmerga from President Barzani’s Kurdish Democratic Party, as well as civilians sympathizers took part in a massive display of power on the streets of the capital. They all claimed they are ready to fight ISIS out of Kurdistan and protect their city. Erbil, IRAQ. 07/08/2014.

Syrian-Kurd children play on a carousel at Kawergosk Camp. Kawergosk refugee camp is located outside of Erbil and is home to about 14 000 Syrian-Kurds refugees from Qamishli in Syria who have fled the ongoing civil war. Near Erbil, IRAQ. 28/07/2014.

Yazidi mothers care to their children in an unfinished building where hundreds of Yazidi families have sought shelter from ISIS. On August 3rd 2014, ISIS forces began an unprecedented offensive inside Kurdish-controlled Iraq territory. As they captured the town of Sinjar, mainly populated by Yazidi-Kurds, its inhabitants were forced into exile in the Sinjar mountains. They were soon besieged by ISIS forces and faced being slaughtered for being alleged worshippers of Satan or die from starvation. As international help arrived, most Yazidis were able to escape the mountain range via a safe passage into Syrian Kurdistan. From there, they took to the road again and sought refuge in the city of Dohuk, located in Northern Iraq. I.D.P. camps were soon overrun and a vast number of Yazidi families resorted to settle inside partly-constructed buildings or under motorway bridges. Dohuk, IRAQ. 23/08/2014.

Local residents of Ankawa and Christian refugees celebrate together the Assumption of Mary as the UN has declared its highest level of humanitarian emergency in Iraq. During the prayers, a distracted young girl stares at the camera. Ankawa, District of Erbil, IRAQ. 15/08/2014.

An elderly Yazidi woman walks among a makeshift camp under a motorway bridge where dozens of Yazidi families have sought shelter from ISIS. Dohuk, IRAQ. 23/08/2014.

A woman crosses the room inside Mar Tshmony church where 500 Christian families have taken shelter following an Islamic State offensive. Ankawa, District of Erbil, IRAQ. 11/08/2014.

An elderly woman sleeps outside Saint-Joseph Church where 650 Christian families have taken shelter following an Islamic State offensive. Ankawa, District of Erbil, IRAQ. 12/08/2014.

Najeb Daniel, a 75 years old Christian resident of Qaraqosh was not able to leave the town on the 7th of August like most of the Christian population did. Instead, He spent nearly three weeks in the city and, having refused to convert to Islam, was taken out of the city by ISIS militants to a remote area from which he walked and crawled his way back to Peshmerga controlled teritory. His body bears the marks of the plight he had to endure. He is picture with his wife (far left) and his daughter in the room they have been allocated at Bazar International Shopping Mall. Bazar International Shopping Mall is an unfinished building that have been left to decay. Its Christian manager, Mr Nazar Hana has invited refugee families to take shelter in the upper floors and provide them with food. So far, up to 1 000 people have gathered there and more are expected in the following days. Erbil, IRAQ, 25/08/2014.

Yazidi refugees and local Kurdish youth take a break from the scortching temperatures and enjoy swimming and diving in the Euphrates River at Delal Bridge. Near Delal Refugee Camp. Zakho, IRAQ. 24/08/2014.

A mother kisses her child outside Mar Tshmony church where 500 Christian families have taken shelter following an Islamic State offensive. Ankawa, District of Erbil, IRAQ. 11/08/2014.