According to the United Nations the Christian community in Iraq is at great risk as violence forces many members of the minority religious group to flee.

Thousands of Christians were displaced from Mosul in northern Iraq because of lingering violence, said the U. N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Christians leaders complained they were made to feel unwelcome in an area they consider their historic homeland. Three Christian family members were killed last week in Mosul when militants stormed their house.

It was concerned for the safety of the remaining Christian families in the area. The humanitarian agency said there were allegations many Christians were afraid to leave their homes, said OCHA in a report on the situation in Mosul.

According to U. N. estimates, insurgent attacks on Christians in northern Iraq forced roughly half of the community to flee in 2008. The latest figures out of Mosul show roughly 200 Christians had fled the region since Saturday.

Many Christian students are not reporting for class and many workers are staying home, OCHA further added. (With inputs from Agencies)