Humanitarian crisis in Mosul

Liberation from IS could leave hundreds of thousands destitute

THE UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Iraq, Lise Grande, has warned the conditions in the country which created the Islamic State (IS) could remain despite the military operation against it, thus further compromising the future of the war-ravaged country.

Reporting on Wednesday on the conditions in Mosul, witnessing one of the largest urban military operations since World War II, Grande warned a proper humanitarian response was essential.

When the military operation to oust terrorists from the area began on October 17, 1.5 million civilians lived in Mosul.

In the eastern part of the city, about 400 000 are now free of IS control. However, the western part, an areahome to 750 000, remains under IS control.

Military operations to retake that part of the city are expected to begin late next month or early March.

“One of the exceptional aspects of the Mosul military operation was the decision by Iraqi security forces to adopt a humanitarian concept of operations when developing their battle plans,” said Grande.

The plan, she explained, prohibits artillery strikes, requires civilians to remain in their homes, and provides humanitarian exit corridors wherever necessary.

“You would expect the number of civilian casualties would be around 15 percent, a high of 20percent. What we’re seeing in Mosul is nearly 50 percent are civilians.

“It’s clear this is because of direct targeting by combatants. They’re being targeted by IS. They’re being shot as they try and leave the city and they’re being shot as they try and secure food and other resources.”

Meanwhile, the humanitarian community is worried a siege is a real possibility.

The Special Representative emphasised that a siege of 750 000 people would have enormous implications and that 90 percent of efforts to break a siege fail.

Given the statistics, stakeholders are working as hard as possible to deliver supplies. Planning for the “massive” humanitarian response that began last February has enabled workers to reach 500000 people. There are nine open camps, with an additional nine under way.

“When Da’esh (another name for IS) is defeated in Iraq, that’s a military success, but the humanitarian crisis is a legacy – it just keeps going.”

“Humanitarians know that when Da’esh is defeated that the world’s attention is going to go elsewhere and that it will be difficult for us to mobilise the resources necessary.” – ANA

PICTURE: AP CASUALTY: An Iraqi soldier patrols past al-Salam hospital in Mosul, Iraq. The hospital has been left almost completely gutted by the battle to retake the city. It was the scene of a setback for Iraqi troops in the Mosul operation, but was retaken this...