Members of Australia's Iraqi community have expressed their shock and concern over the latest wave of unrest in their homeland.
It's been estimated that half-a-million people have been forced to flee the city of Mosul after Islamic militants seized control, before pushing further south.
It's a busy weekday afternoon in the Sydney suburb of Auburn.
But there's no business trading inside a main street barbershop, where Iraqi born workers and their clients gather around a television, watching scenes of the military crisis in Mosul play out.
Ali Mohamad is among them.
His wife lives close to Iraq's second-largest city.
"It's ok. I called my wife, she says that it's ok because she says school is stopping and everything because of the situation problem."
He says she's safe, for now.
But there are many others in the country that remain at risk.
In the tobacconist next door, Essam Zaki is worried about his family, living in Baghdad.
Though it's quiet there now, he isn't sure how long that will last.
"We are closely monitoring what is really hapening in Iraq, especially in this past last week, when everyone was surprised and shocked when a proportion of rebels were taking over the second-largest city in Iraq, which is Mosul."
And the 29-year-old, who came to Australia as a refugee six years ago, can't believe the government capitulated so quickly.
"Last ten years ago, because there was bombing everywhere, assassination, killing people, the first time they were surprised, they were shocked. But now, this time, everyone's taking it naturally. However, this time they're taking over big cities, so that's a big concern to the Iraqi people."
Australia is home to about 50,000 people who were born in Iraq -- many of whom came here as refugees.
Those who have remained in Iraq through more than a decade of conflict are again facing displacement.
Mohammad Kandil is the head of communications at the group, Islamic Relief Australia.
"We are already in the process of delivering non-food items, clean water and food commodities to those who have been internally displaced. They are currently living in mosques, tents, friends' homes in the region."
The organisation has begun a fundraising campaign to help those displaced by the upsurge in violence in Iraq.
But like many aid agencies in the region they've had to suspend day-to-day operations in the wake of the crisis.
"The security situation is kind of spiralling out of control and it's moving into areas surrounding the region. As well, electricity is not constant in the area so that is causing a lot of trouble for people who are fleeing to find a place to settle with their family."
Ali Mohamad hopes his wife will soon be able to join him in Australia.
"She is waiting for an Australian visa. She is studying there for TAFE and after she is finishing the studying she is coming here."
Until then, he watches, and waits.
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