UN, partners voice deep concern about 750,000 civilians as battle expands to western Mosul

A hundred days after the start of military operations to retake Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) militants, humanitarian partners are expressing deep concern about the plight of the estimated 750,000 civilians who are currently living in the western sections of the city where fighting is expected to start in coming weeks.

Up until now, eastern Mosul has been the main battleground. To date, 180,000 people have fled the city's eastern sections; more than 550,000 civilians have stayed in their homes.

“We are relieved that so many people in the eastern sections of Mosul have been able to stay in their homes. We hope that everything is done to protect the hundreds of thousands of people who are across the river in the west. We know that they are at extreme risk and we fear for their lives,” said [2] Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, in a statement signed also by other humanitarians from UN agencies and the civil society.

We don't know what will happen in western Mosul but we cannot rule out the possibility of siege-like conditions or a mass exodus

“The reports from inside western Mosul are distressing,” said Ms. Grande, noting that humanitarian partners are unable to access these areas and the prices of basic food and supplies are soaring. Water and electricity are intermittent in neighbourhoods and many families without income are eating only once a day. Others are being forced to burn furniture to stay warm, she added.

“We don't know what will happen in western Mosul but we cannot rule out the possibility of siege-like conditions or a mass exodus,” said Ms. Grande. “They can be killed by booby-traps and in cross-fire and could be used as human shields.”

Since 17 October 2016, when the Iraqi military operation to retake Mosul began, the International Organization for Migration IOM has tracked the movements of more than 26,873 displaced families – 161,238 individuals – the majority of whom desperately need life-saving humanitarian assistance. Photo: UNHCR/ Ivor Prickett

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has provided emergency food, water and hygiene supplies to displaced families – including water purification tablets, high energy biscuits, jerry cans, baby hygiene kits and leaflets with information on child protection and basic mine awareness. Photo: UNICEF/ Anmar

Monitoring the situation, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides updates on funding and the humanitarian response – including gaps and constraints on camp coordination and management; shelter and non-food items; food security; health; water, sanitation and hygiene; education; logistics; and emergency telecommunications. Photo: OCHA/Themba Linden

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has been working hard to provide immediate relief to women and girls affected by the conflict – including through the distribution of dignity kits, which contain hygiene supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, sanitary pads and underclothes. Photo: UNICEF/Khuzaie

Monthly food rations and ready-to-eat food have been provided to the affected people by the World Food Programme (WFP), which contain rice, lentils, wheat flour, bulgur wheat, beans and vegetable oil. Photo: UNICEF/Khuzaie

Francesco Motta, Director of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), sitting in an IDP camp listening to a man talk about his children taken by the by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh). UNAMI assists on a number of fronts, such as tracking civilian deaths and injuries to tally casualty figures on a monthly basis. Photo: UNAMI

In addition to delivering medicines and supplies to treat injuries and chronic conditions, the World Health Organization (WHO) has conducted trauma management training for medical doctors in Erbil and Ninewa and Dohuk and paramedical teams engaged in managing civilian casualties from Mosul. Photo: UNHCR/Caroline Gluck

Early in December, as the number of displaced people approached 100,000, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stepped up winter distributions – providing thermal blankets and quilts to 11,200 people around Mosul. Photo: UNHCR/Ivor Prickett

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The Iraqi security forces have adopted a humanitarian concept of operations putting civilian protection at the centre of their battle plan. Humanitarian partners welcome this approach and renew their collective call on all parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and ensure they have access to life-saving assistance.

“The world's attention is fixed on the military campaign in Iraq. But once this is over, there will still be a humanitarian crisis,” Ms. Grande said, noting that as many as three million Iraqis, maybe even four million depending on what happens in Mosul, Hawiga and Tel Afar, may be displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.

“These families will need to make crucial choices about how to rebuild and re-establish their lives. And we will need to be here to help them. We hope and trust that the international community will not walk away after Mosul. It would be a mistake – a very big one – if this were to happen,” she added.