The United Nations is warning that tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped by militants on a mountain in northern Iraq.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon says their situation is "harrowing".
"I urge the international community to do even more to provide the protection they need. And I condemn in the strongest possible terms the systematic persecution of individuals from minority populations and those who refuse the extremist ideology of "IS" and associated armed groups."
UN officials say thousands of Yazidis have been able to escape in the past three days with help from Kurdish security forces and others.
The Yazidi refugees, from one of Iraq's minority religious communities, have been sheltering on Mount Sinjar after fleeing the advancing Islamic State militants.
Meantime, US drone strikes against IS militants are continuing with a drone targeting an IS mortar near Kurdish troops.
It's also been reported US is set to deploy some 100 military advisers to Iraq.
