Iraq: Yazidi boy found in the desert

Every evening I sit and watch the news, and every evening my heart gets broken. What we see on our television screens is horrific; violence, wars, death, disease, destruction. Yet what we see doesn't even begin to measure against what the people are going through. We can turn the TV off and go about our daily lives, but for these people in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Gaza, Liberia, Ethiopia, there's no escape. 
A few days ago there was a report about a young boy in Iraq. When Kurdish soldiers found him in the desert, he was in a coma, close to death. Severely dehydrated after being exposed to up to 50 degree heat with no protection. The boy, whose name is not known, is disabled. He has paralysis down one side of his body which meant he could not move himself or cover his eyes from the glare of the sun. As a result, his eyes dried out and doctors say that his corneas have turned white - almost blinding him. How terrifying for this little boy. He is thought to only be about three years old. To spend an estimated 24 hours lying on your back under the merciless sun, you would be confused and distraught. 

The situation in Iraq is extensive and you could easily spend all day reading news reports and researching into the country and the IS. There is a brief description of the events in Iraq here - www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28761383. I won't pretend to know the full story about what is happening, I don't think we ever can. But it is vital that we in the west start to sit up and listen more about what is going on in the world, and start to care. We're all human, and where you live or where you come from should not determine your worth.
It is thought that the boy was part of a Yazidi group who were fleeing their homes. The Yazidis are a religious group, but you cannot convert to Yazidism - you must be born into it. The group is one of the minorities who have come under attack, as well as Christians. Some have said that the boy's mother panicked when they came under gunfire and ran, leaving her son behind. Others say that she became too exhausted to carry him any further. 
This boy is not the only victim. Sadly, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, attacked, injured or killed in the crisis. 
What can we do to help? As well as worries over military action, there is also a huge humanitarian crisis as people are left with no food, water or shelter. Organisations such as UNICEF and Save The Children are providing humanitarian aid and setting up refugee camps. If you feel led to donating, their websites are just a google away. 
Short term relief is required at the moment, but long term answers are also needed. Will these people be able to return to their homes? How long will it be before the children can return to school? Or before their parents can return to work? What will be the long term effects?
Prayer is also pretty vital. Pray for peace in Iraq and neighbouring Syria. Pray for the governments of the world, notably in the Middle East but also the UK and US as they try to develop a response. Pray for the civilians who have been forced to leave their homes, and those who have lost family members.
I think my main purpose for this post is to raise awareness. For those of you who think the news is 'boring' or who switch off when this kind of thing is reported. It is so important for us to start to care about what goes outside of what directly affects us, and to offer help in whichever way we can. 

Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera, The Telegraph