UN warns 20,000 Iraqi children trapped in Fallujah battlefield

The UN children fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday warned that at least 20,000 Iraqi children remain trapped in the city of Fallujah where Iraqi security forces are fighting to drive out the Islamic State (IS) militants from the city.

"UNICEF estimates that at least 20,000 children remain trapped in the city. According to reports, food and medicine are running out and clean water is in short supply," the organization said in a statement.

Since the breakout of clashes between the security forces and IS militants around the city, which located some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, very few families managed to flee the city while larger number of families left their homes in the surrounding towns and villages, the statement said.

"Children face the risk of forced recruitment into the fighting, strict procedures for security screening and separation from their families," the statement added.

"UNICEF calls on all parties to protect children inside Fallujah, provide safe passage to those wishing to leave the city and grant safe and secure environments to displaced civilians," it said.

The statement came as the Iraqi forces and allied paramilitary Shiite and Sunni units, known as Hashd Shaabi, continued their battles around the IS-held town of Saqlawiyah in northwest of Fallujah, in an attempt to free the town from IS militants.

The battles around Fallujah continued as the troops faced fierce resistance from the extremist militants inside the city.

Moreover, the troops' advance is expected to be slow as the security forces have orders to spare the lives of tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside Fallujah, in addition to hundreds of hidden bombs are believed to be planted by the militants to hamper the advance of the troops.

Earlier, Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul, spokesman for the Joint Military Command, said that intelligence reports indicate that about 400 to 600 militants are in Fallujah, many of them foreigners. He said about 50,000 to 70,000 civilians are expected to remain in Fallujah.

Also on Wednesday, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said in a statement that a total of 867 Iraqis were killed and 1,459 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflicts in May across Iraq, urging the Iraqi government to take every effort to protect civilians.

UN envoy to Iraq and the UNAMI chief Jan Kubis also called concerning parties in Anbar province, particularly in battlefield in Fallujah, to take every effort to "protect the lives of civilians and to preserve Fallujah's infrastructure in accordance with the relevant principles of international human rights and humanitarian law," according to the statement.

"Innocent civilians should not pay the price for the crimes of Daesh (IS group)," the statement quoted Kubis as saying.

On May 23, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of the offensive to claim Fallujah.

Government troops and allied militias have currently been fighting for months to reclaim key cities and towns in Anbar from IS militants, who attempted to advance towards Baghdad after seizing most of Anbar province.

Iraq is currently witnessing a wave of violence since the Islamic State controlled parts of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014. Endit