Islamic State withholding water from 30 eastern Mosul districts
Islamic State’s flag. file photo.
Hossam al-Abbar, a member of Nineveh province council, said in press statements that water plants feeding eastern and western Mosul were still under IS control, adding that the group, stopping water pumps, has caused to cut water on Monday from 30 neighborhoods that had been retaken by security forces.
“There are ten other districts where the water supply continues, but intermittently,” Abbar added.
He urged the government to disburse the province’s budget so as to run potable water tanks.
Iraqi forces, backed by US-led fighter jets, have been carrying out a major campaign since mid October to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and the Islamic State’s last urban stronghold in Iraq.
Iraqi generals said recently they became in control over more than 70 percent of the eastern section of the city and are hoping to retake it entirely so as to move onwards to fight for IS’s western hideouts.
The conflict in Mosul has forced at least 169.000 people to flee to refugee camps, while hundred thousands are still stranded, being either used as human shields or shot at upon trying to flee, according to aid and human rights groups.