Refugees from Nineveh up to 150.000: ministry

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The number of refugees from Nineveh who escaped fields of battles between Islamic State militants and security forces has stood at 150.000, said the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.

The new count is announced as the ministry teams received 2726 new migrants on Monday who were distributed to camps in Mosul and Kirkuk.

Battles between Islamic State militants and security forces seeking to retake Iraq’s second largest city since October 2016 have hardened living for hundreds of thousands of civilians who sought refuge at United Nations and government camps. The UN estimates the current number of internally displaced people in Iraq by more than three million. It had voiced concern over the fate of one million civilians upon the launch of military operations.

Most of the refugees are occasionally reported to endure difficult conditions at refugee camps a few have died due to food and medication shortages as well as inclement weather. News reports and right groups have also condemned Islamic State for targeting civilians who attempt to flee areas under control.

Iraqi government forces have said they currently control a third of Nineveh, and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in December he expects the whole province to be recaptured from IS extremists in tow months.