Refugees fleeing from western Mosul up to 31.000: ministry
Displaced Iraqis who just fled their homes are transported to refugee camps as Iraqi forces battle with Islamic State militants, in western Mosul, Iraq February 28, 2017. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra – RTS10RPL
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The number of refugees fleeing from western Mosul has reached more than 31.000 as battles intensify between Islamic State militants and Iraqi troops seeking to retake the region, the government has said.
Undersecretary of the Migration and Displacement Ministry, Jassem al-Attiya, said Thursday that more than 7000 people fled western Mosul districts of Samah, Dandan and al-Josaq on Wednesday alone, taking the total up to 31.621. They were admitted in refugee camps in Qayyara and Hammal al-Alil, the official said.
The United Nations has warned that at least 250.000 could be displaced due to battles in western Mosul, highlighting severe medical and food stuff shortages under IS occupation.
Iraqi forces captured the eastern side of Mosul late January after three months of fighting and launched their attack on the districts that lie west of the Tigris river on February 19th.
The police command said recently that more than 900 IS militants were killed since operations for western Mosul launched, with the forces approaching to vital government facilities at the center of the city. The U.S.-led coalition’s command said Wednesday that a maximum of 2000 IS fighters remain in the western region, with most of the senior leaders close to the supreme commander dead.