- Title: Iraqis fleeing recaptured areas of Mosul head for camps
- Date: 28th December 2016
- Summary: NEAR BARTELLA, IRAQ (DECEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AT AN IRAQI ARMY CHECKPOINT / HUMVEE DRIVING DOWN STREET VARIOUS OF DISPLACED IRAQIS WAITING TO BE TRANSPORTED TO CAMPS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN WAITING AT CHECKPOINT VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE CARRYING THEIR ITEMS TOWARDS THE BUSES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED WOMAN WHO FLED FROM THE QUDS NEIGHBOURHOOD OF MOSUL, UM AHMAD, SAYING: "We fled the Quds neighbourhood to escape the mortars; mortars would constantly fall on us. The situation there was difficult, everything is expensive; we were starving. They (Islamic State) have no mercy. It was tough for us and for our children." VARIOUS OF MEN WAITING TO BE SCREENED BY SECURITY OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF SECURITY OFFICIALS CALLING OUT MEN'S NAMES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SPOKESMEN FOR THE RAPID RESPONSE UNIT, LIEUTENANT COLONEL ABDELAMIR MOHAMMEDAWI, SAYING: "Today the Rapid Response units began securing a road to enable civilian families to flee from the neighbourhoods of Intisar and Quds. They came towards Kokjali, and most will then be transported to refugee camps, while others who have sponsors will be taken to residential areas. These families, dozens of families, fled because Daesh (Islamic State) targeted the neighbourhoods of Intisar and Quds using mortars and Katyusha rockets." VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN WALKING TOWARDS BUSES VARIOUS OF FAMILIES SITTING ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF A FAMILY SITTING AROUND AN OUTDOOR FIRE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE NINEVEH LOCAL COUNCIL, HIYAM ELHAM, SAYING: "These families are caught between Daesh mortars and the lack of services. We hope that in the next few days real effort will be made to secure services in the area and bring life back to the liberated areas." VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE BOARDING TRUCKS THAT WILL TRANSPORT THEM TO CAMPS TRUCKS LEAVING THE AREA
- Embargoed: 12th January 2017 15:19
- Keywords: Iraq Mosul Bartella displaced camps Islamic State
- Location: NEAR BARTELLA, IRAQ
- City: NEAR BARTELLA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ESSKSN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hundreds of Iraqi civilians waited on Wednesday (December 28) to be transported to camps for displaced people after fleeing areas of eastern Mosul which the army had recently captured from Islamic State.
The militants have stepped up counter-attacks on the Iraqi forces in eastern Mosul, prompting many residents to leave their homes in the area.
The displaced men were screened by security forces in Bartella town to the east of Mosul before being transported to camps.
One woman said her family fled their home because of mortar attacks.
An official said most of the civilians were from Intisar and Quds districts of eastern Mosul.
Every time Iraqi forces capture a section of Mosul in their offensive against Islamic State, it can take up to a week to ensure it is clear of militants.
Some militants hide in the network of tunnels they have constructed, while others mix with thousands of displaced people or stay behind to form sleeper cells.
Iraqi security officials say they have seized nearly a quarter of eastern Mosul.
Nearly 100,000 people have fled the city, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Tuesday (December 27) it would take three months to remove Islamic State from Iraq. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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