90,000 flee Anbar in face of battles with Islamic State

Conflict in Iraq has led to displacement of 2.7 million

BEIRUT — More than 90,000 people are fleeing fighting in Iraq’s Anbar province, the United Nations said Sunday, as the Iraqi government and aid groups struggle to assist the legions of newly displaced.

Pro-government forces have been engaged in intense clashes with Islamic State militants for control of Ramadi, the Anbar provincial capital, about 70 miles west of Baghdad.

Iraqi commanders are rushing police and military reinforcements to Ramadi to prevent the city from being overrun. Street battles have been raging in the city and in outlying suburbs and towns, authorities say.

The nearby city of Fallujah has been under militant control for more than a year. But government forces have man- aged to maintain their presence in Ramadi.

Video from Iraq has shown columns of civilians fleeing the Ramadi area, carrying what few possessions they could bring with them. Many carried young children.

Many fleeing Anbar have found shelter in western and southern suburbs of Baghdad, the capital. Because of security concerns, Iraqi authorities are reportedly restricting the numbers entering Baghdad.

Internal conflict in Iraq has led to the displacement of at least 2.7 million Iraqis since 2014, according to the United Nations. The numbers have increased significantly since Islamic State militants overran much of northern Iraq from June to August last year.

More than 500,000 people fled last year as the extremists overran the northern city of Mosul and nearby areas. Many of those displaced were Christians, Shiite Muslims and members of the Yazidi sect, all fearing persecution at the hands of Islamic State