One million could be displaced by military campaign to retake Mosul: UN expert

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, on Wednesday warned that in a worst-case scenario, one million people could be displaced as Iraqi forces launch a military campaign to retake Mosul from the so called Islamic State (IS).

He also said that as many as 700,000 people in Mosul could be in need of emergency shelter following intensification of fighting and its potential humanitarian consequences.

According to the UN figures released earlier this week, as many as 1.5 million women, men, girls and boys may be impacted by the military campaign, and 200,000 people are expected to be displaced in the first weeks.

"While humanitarian agencies have put in place preparedness measures ahead of the offensive to ensure that protection needs are met and humanitarian assistance is ready to be distributed, arrangements for safe exit in dignity have not been given enough attention," Beyani stressed.

In a written statement released Wednesday, the expert, who visited Iraq on an official visit in May of 2015, called on all actors to respect their obligations under international law relating to the protection of civilians.

"Appropriate systems must be put in place for emergency evacuations of civilians at risk from areas where the conflict is taking place or from areas that remain insecure, and their access to emergency lifesaving assistance such as provision of food, water and medical care must be guaranteed," he added.

Iraqi security forces on Monday launched a major offensive aimed at liberating the city of Mosul, the last major stronghold of IS militants in Iraq.

Mosul, which is located some 400 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, has been under the group's control since June 2014, when Iraqi government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions. Endit