Melek & Kreesh: Best Friends Who Couldn’t Be Separated By War

Nine-year-old Melek Tariq Nooreldeen is too shy to talk, too wrapped up in playing with Kreesh, a ginger cat that she has raised since it was abandoned by its mother. Her sister explains that Melek and Kreesh are inseparable, even sharing a bed.

So when Kreesh went missing on Tuesday morning, Melek was inconsolable.Melek and her family fled the village al-Shaymaa, south east of Mosul, 10 days ago, after two mortar rounds hit their home. They carried what they could, running in panic towards the Iraqi army.The army initially sheltered the family in Shahrezad, before moving them to the IDP camp in Khazir. Melek’s sister explains that Kreesh is dearly loved, especially as the pet-loving family left behind their puppy. Melek keeps asking to return to find him.Her mother and father (pictured above) yesterday made the kind of rash promise one does to a crying child – they would find Kreesh. Happily, the friends were indeed reunited, and Kreesh was fed her favourite meal of tomatoes, cake and milk.