Exhausted and terrorized, many of the Yazidis of northern Iraq who straggled into this Kurdish town after escaping the Islamic State deathtrap of Mount Sinjar recalled the agony of leaving relatives exposed on the mountain.
Dakheel, 64, a shepherd who fled with family members into the rocky gullies above the sheep-grazing areas around Sinjar, left his 95-year-old mother when he set off on a grueling, risky walk to safety.
The Yazidis were just one of the communities fleeing their villages from advancing Islamic State fighters who drove looted armored vehicles and fired machine guns and raised their black flag over towns across northwest Iraq in recent weeks.
Displaced people from minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to Islamic State in Sinjar town, walk towards Syrian border, on outskirts of Sinjar mountain
Members of Kurdish Red Cresent help displaced woman from minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to Islamic State in Sinjar town, as they make way towards Syrian border, on outskirts of Sinjar mountain
Displaced people from minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to Islamic State in Sinjar town, ride truck as they make way towards Syrian border, on outskirts of Sinjar mountain
Displaced people from minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to Islamic State in Sinjar town, ride in trunk of car as they make way towards Syrian border, on outskirts of Sinjar mountain
Displaced people from minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to Islamic State in Sinjar town, ride in trunk of car as they make way towards Syrian border, on outskirts of Sinjar mountain
Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar town, ride a truck as they make their way towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain
Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar town, walk towards the Syrian border
