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Roundup: Almost 73,000 people displaced as battle for Mosul rages: IOM, UNHCR

Xinhua, November 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Some 72,990 civilians have fled the Iraqi city of Mosul and its adjacent districts since military operations to recapture one of the Islamic State (IS)'s last strongholds began on Oct. 17, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Friday.

Accounting for 12,165 families, IOM indicated that most of those who were forced to flee their homes originated from the districts of Mosul (87 percent), Al-Hamdaniya, and Tilkaif (both 6 percent).

IOM revealed that 78 percent of those recently displaced by military operations are living in formal camps.

A further 15 percent have taken shelter in private settings, while six percent are in critical shelter arrangements and one percent are passing through screening sites.

Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) also said Friday it was opening two additional camps to shelter some of the 72,990 civilians.

"In the past week, UNHCR has opened Al Alam, in Tikrit, which is hosting 180 Iraqis, with more expected," the agency said in a statement, adding that "Amalla camp, near Telafar, is set to open next week."

UNHCR currently has six camps accommodating civilians fleeing ongoing fighting in Mosul and its adjacent districts.

To date, almost 70 percent of those who have sought shelter have done so in camps located in Erbil and Duhok governorates.

"With winter setting in, it is more critical to find shelter solutions to ensure that families are not left in the cold," the refugee agency continued.

"UNHCR has begun distributing extra winter assistance to displaced families. The help includes insulated mattresses, quilts, blankets, insulation liners for tents and kerosene stoves," it added.

Supported by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Iraqi troops kicked off operations last month to take back the city which fell into IS hands in June 2014 after government forces abandoned their weapons and fled, enabling IS militants to take control of parts of Iraq's northern and western regions.

International aircraft as well as Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition artillery units are supporting ground operations there.

According to reports, more than 5,000 IS militants were initially holed up in Mosul, though they are losing ground amid ongoing military operations.

The UN Refugee Agency had warned before the military campaign kicked off that as many as 1.2 million civilians could be displaced by the fighting. Endit