Iraqi Hero of Assyrian Refugees Ashur Eskrya Dead at 47

Ashur Sargon Eskrya, one of the heroes of the Assyrian Christian people and longtime supporter of efforts to assist them on the ground in the Assyrian homeland, died suddenly on April 9, 2021, shortly after testing positive for COVID-19.

Eskrya was a graduate of Technology University and since 2003 had worked tirelessly to help the Assyrian nation, helping with relief projects in the country, making countless trips outside the country to assist the Assyrian Christian cause and stubbornly staying in the country to be with his people when many others left.

Eskrya was a committed believer, born in Mosul, Iraq, and in addition to his unrelenting efforts to provide assistance to the Assyrian Christian refugees, he never wavered in his belief in the promise of Isaiah 19:23-25, which all Assyrian Christians hold dear as the promise from God that they will have their nation:

“In that day there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel shall be the third group with Egypt and Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of Hosts has blessed, saying, ‘Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.'”

Former head of USAID Mark Green, now president of the Wilson Center, said of Eskrya, “He devoted himself to the recovery of his people and his land from the unspeakable horrors of genocide, and it is a great sadness that he did not live to see his good work completed.”

“He was a tireless advocate for Christians and religious minorities in Iraq,” said Knox Thames, the U.S. State Department’s former special adviser for religious minorities. “I often sought his insights about conditions on the ground.”

“He loved Assyria, he loved his people and he loved his family,” said his brother-in-law. “He served everyone and now, with this sudden development, we are asking those he helped over the years to help his wife and three young children.”

Assistance is being requested to help Eskrya’s wife, son and two young daughters, who are suddenly left without support. If you would like to donate, click here. {eoa}

Amir George directs The World Helpline at theworldhelpline.org.

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