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U.N. expresses concern for 750,000 civilians remaining in western Mosul

 U.N. expresses concern for 750,000 civilians remaining in western Mosul

Civilians leave the city to escape from clashes during a battle with Islamic State militants, in al-Zirai district in Mosul, Iraq, January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Civilians leave the city to escape from clashes during a battle with Islamic State militants, in al-Zirai district in Mosul, Iraq, January 18, 2017. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
(Reuters/IraqiNews.com) The United Nations expressed “deep concern” on Tuesday about 750,000 civilians living in western Mosul, ahead of a U.S.-backed offensive to dislodge Islamic State from this area.

“The reports from inside western Mosul are distressing,” Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said in a statement. “The prices of basic food and supplies are soaring … many families without income are eating only once a day. Others are being forced to burn furniture to stay warm.”

Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq, is divided into two halves by the Tigris river that runs through its centre.

Iraqi officials announced a takeover of the eastern side on Monday, after 100 days of fighting against the hardline militants who captured it in 2014.

Mosul had a pre-war population of about two million.

Battles have displaced 189.000 civilians, according to the government’s latest toll, and the United Nations, upon the launch of security operations, had predicted at least one million people to leave homes due to the violence.

IS fighters have both shot at and executed civilians attempting to flee areas under their control, according to aid groups and security officials who also said that civilians are being used as human shields. The existence of civilians at battlefields has been one reason behind the slowdown of operations at some stages.

*The article was corrected to note that the number of refugees from Mosul since October reached 189.000, and not 181.000.

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