- Title: Battle for Iraq's Mosul could take months, ICRC warns
- Date: 1st December 2016
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC) BUILDING VARIOUS OF ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART SAYING: "It is, I think, reasonable to expect that this is going to take weeks, if not months, yes." ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART IN HIS OFFICE MAP OF IRAQ (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART SAYING: "The fight in Mosul is not going to stop any time soon because the resistance is very strong, and therefore it is likely, although I cannot speculate I know, but it is likely that we will see long, drawn-out fighting with very serious suffering of a population that will once again be caught between two frontlines." ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART IN HIS OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART SAYING: "We also observe, on the ground, a growing number of wounded people that are coming out of Mosul, the thing is it is not a steady flow. There are peaks depending a little bit on how the fighting goes and where it takes place." MAP OF SYRIA AND IRAQ WITH ICRC CENTRES MAP OF IRAQ (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICRC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE DOMINIK STILLHART SAYING: "We have trained and equipped our staff for possible small-scale use of chemical weapons, but we have also prepared some of these medical facilities with training and equipment to receive people affected by chemical weapon." EXTERIOR OF ICRC BUILDING
- Embargoed: 16th December 2016 18:11
- Keywords: Iraq Mosul coalition forces Islamic State fighting retake offensive
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA0015B20QIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The Iraqi government's assault to retake the northern city of Mosul could take months, prompting more and more civilians to try to flee to avoid being trapped between frontlines, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Thursday (December 1) during an interview with Reuters.
"The fight in Mosul is not going to stop any time soon because the resistance is very strong, and therefore it is likely, although I cannot speculate I know, but it is likely that we will see long, drawn-out fighting with very serious suffering of a population that will once again be caught between two frontlines." said director of ICRC operations worldwide, Dominik Stillhart.
More than six weeks into the offensive against Islamic State's last major city stronghold in Iraq, the army is trying to dislodge militants in amongst civilians in the eastern districts, the only side Iraqi troops have been able to breach.
Some 70,000 people have been displaced so far.
Stillhart said that is a relatively low number that suggests the Iraqi military was giving consideration to protecting the civilian population.
He is concerned the situation could evolve to even greater and more intense urban warfare with great impact on civilians.
The ICRC is focusing on providing food and shelter to civilians who have fled Mosul, and on water and sanitation projects. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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