6 dead due to medication shortage in Hawija

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Six people died in the Kirkuk town of Hawija due to the insufficiency of medicinal supplies, according to a local source at the Islamic State-held region.

“Six civilians, mostly elders with chronic diseases,died in Hawija due to the absence of medications,” the source told Alsumaria News on condition of anonymity.

“Life has almost stopped due to the presence of the terrorist group and the absence of doctors and medication,” the source added.

Tens of people have left Hawija since Islamic State took over in 2014 to more secure regions of Kirkuk. Some were reportedly executed by ISIS on attempting to flee the area or urging fellow citizens to migrate.

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are living in difficult conditions either in refugee camps or cities still in ISIS grip. Iraqi security forces, popular militias and a US-led coalition have been on a major campaign since October to drive the militants out from several Iraqi cities, most notably Mosul, the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

Food shortages and electricity hiccups have been reported in the city of Mosul as utilities sustained damage in battles between the extremist group and Iraqi troops.

“The surge in violence between armed groups and government forces has resulted to over 3.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Iraq and left more than 10 million in need of humanitarian assistance,” according to the United Nation’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.