IOM: Mosul refugees up to 73000

Baghdad – (Iraqinews.com) The number of Iraqis leaving the restive city of Mosul to refugee camps has soared to nearly 73000 since military operations to retake the city from Islamic State extremists launched in October, according to the International Organization of Migration.

The announced total is higher than the 68000 announced by the organization three days ago. However, refugee numbers witnessed a drop over the past five days, according to IOM spokesperson, Joel Millman, whom spoke in a press conference in the United Nations in Geneva.

Of those refugees, 98% remain within the borders of Nineveh province, according to Millman.

UN estimates project one million, out of 1.5 million, to be displaced from Mosul, driven out by battles between Iraqi government and popular forces and ISIS militants.