Thousands flee onslaught in Mosul, but many stay

MORE than 68 000 people have fled their homes since Iraqi forces launched a huge offensive against the Islamic State group in and around Mosul last month, the UN said yesterday.

The figure increased significantly over the past week as forces battled deep into the densely populated city, but it falls short of pre-offensive predictions. A United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs official said 68 550 people were displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance.

The organisation said the aid response to the offensive launched against the jihadists on October 17 was growing in complexity, with varying needs for different categories of civilians. “Humanitarian needs are severe among displaced families in and out of camps, vulnerable residents of retaken communities, and people fleeing the intense fighting in Mosul city,” it said.

A million-plus civilians were thought to still live inside Mosul, the country’s second city and the jihadists’ last major bastion in Iraq, before the operation was launched.

The number of people displaced since the start of the offensive “is less than we expected – we should be able to handle this relatively small number”, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said.

Iraqi forces have so far been sending the message to the population of Mosul that they should stay at home and not try to flee through the front lines.

Many have hunkered down in their houses as Iraqi forces took on IS fighters in fierce street battles.

But that has restricted both the government forces’ ability to use heavier weaponry and aid groups’ ability to deliver assistance. – AFP