Mosul offensive "will have a huge impact, 1.2 million people at risk"
The United Nations warn: "The humanitarian consequences of the Iraqi army offensive to wrest the metropolis of the north from the Islamic State will be devastating". An estimated 400 thousand people will flee towards the south of the metropolitan area, more 250 thousand to the east and 100 thousand north-west. Only 38% collected of the $ 584 million needed to address the emergency.
Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The humanitarian impact of the upcoming offensive against Mosul, planned by government forces to regain control of the city, could be of "huge" proportions. Taccording to the United Nations. Un experts say the northern Iraqi metropolis is home to up to 1.2 million people who are likely to suffer the consequences of the military operation. The Baghdad army's goal is to oust the militants of the Islamic State (IS) from the area.
At least 120 thousand people have been displaced since last March, when battles for the conquest of the stronghold of the "caliphate" in Iraq first began. The regular troops are concentrated in the territories south of the metropolis, "cleaned" of the jihadist presence.
Mosul is the second-largest city – in size and population - of the country; since June 2014 it has been under the control of the Islamic State militias.
Yesterday some special army units launched an operation to retake the town of Qayyarah, about 60 km south of Mosul.
Sabah Numan, spokesman for the Anti-Terrorism Department (CTS), confirmed that some battalions are fighting against jihadist groups in the outskirts of the city; to support the struggle of the different inhabitants of the area equipped with military weapons.
For weeks, government forces are preparing to enter to Qayyarah, after previously regaining an air base located in the vicinity; the outpost will be used as a logistics hub and base for a more impressive offensive targeting Mosul.
Saleh al-Jubouri, mayor of the city, reports that at least 15 thousand people are still trapped inside, even though most of the militiamen had already left the area or were killed.
United Nations experts believe the worst is yet to come, and the battle of Mosul will represent the pinnacle of the emergency. When the battle begins, they explain, at least 400 thousand people will flee towards the south of the metropolis area, another 250 thousand to the east and 100 thousand to the north-west. Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said that "the humanitarian impact of the military offensive could be huge".
Emergency teams have already drawn up plans for the assistance to 120 thousand refugees fleeing from Mosul. They are working to set up six shelters scattered across the northern Iraq. "The progress of work - adds Edwards - is linked to the availability of funds for the territory".
According to data provided by UNHCR, so far only 38% has been collected of the estimated $ 584 million needed to cope with the emergency; Moreover, many of the landowners are not willing to give up their plots to the UN humanitarian agency.
Since the rise of militias Daesh [Arabic acronym for the IS] in the summer of 2014, with the conquest of vast areas of land in the north and west of the country, over 3.38 million people have fled their homes . There are another million displaced persons, the result of sectarian conflict unleashed as a result of the US invasion in 2003.
"The worst is yet to come - said the UNHCR representative in Iraq, Bruno Geddo - and according to our forecasts we could see a massive shift not seen for some time on a global scale”.
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02/11/2016 08:57
