The terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Wednesday released scores of Yazidi elderly and children after eight months of captivity in Iraq.

Iraqi authorities said most of the 216 Yazidis released from ISIS imprisonment had deteriorating health and showed signs of abuse. The 40 children, who were among those abducted, were immediately brought to Kurdish capital Irbil to receive immediate treatment and care.

Like Us on Facebook

Hersh Hussein, a representative from the Irbil governor's office, said aside from the poor physical condition, the captives also showed signs of psychological and emotional trauma.

"Regarding other diseases we provide first aid and the most important medical treatment," Hussein said.

Gen. Hiwa Abdullah, a Peshermga commander in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk said no reason was given for their release. The captives were all taken from an area near Sinjar, in the northern part of Iraq, and were dropped off by the militants at the Khazer bridge.

They are now being held by Kurdish officials for questioning.             

'They are very bad people." 69-year-old Gawre Semo said of the ISIS militants. "They took our children and they took the women. They did bad things with us. We've been humiliated by them," he added.

However, Semo said he did not know the reason why they were released.

Authorities had earlier speculated, that the ISIS had been releasing batches of elderly captive because they have become too much of a burden to the group.  These captives, who are mostly suffering from poor health, are slowing the movement of the terror group.

Tens of thousands of Yazidi's escaped in August, after the ISIS seized Sinjar. But hundreds were taken as captives by the group.

ISIS launched a campaign to filter Iraq of non-islamic influences. The Yazidis are a Kurdish speaking people who follow the religion Yazidism, which was derived from many religious influences. 

This is the second time this year that the ISIS released a big number of captives. In January, the militants freed about 200 people, mostly the elderly and the sick.

TagsISIS, ISIS hostages, Kurds, ISIS captives