- Title: Iraqis welcome food aid in recently recaptured districts in Mosul
- Date: 20th November 2016
- Summary: ZAHRAA NEIGHBOURHOOD, EAST OF MOSUL, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN RUSHING TO GET AID SUPPLIES VARIOUS OF AID BEING DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE FROM BACK OF TRUCK DISPLACED PEOPLE CROWDING AROUND AID TRUCK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF ZAHRAA DISTRICT, ABU AHMED, SAYING: "Sometimes mortar shells land here, but all in all the security situation is good. We suffer from mortars and sniper fire. We also suffer from the absence of electricity. We cannot operate generators because we do not have gasoline. The delivery of water depends on the availability of electricity, therefore, when we do not have electricity, we will not have water. We have to take water from wells. There is no fuel either." BOXES OF AID BEING GIVEN OUT / AID BOX WITH WRITING ON IT WHICH READS (Arabic): "FOOD ITEMS, MINISTRY OF MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT" VARIOUS OF MEN WAITING IN LINE FOR AID CHILD SITTING ON FOOD AID BOX / CHILDREN TRYING TO LIFT FOOD AID BOX WOMAN SITTING NEAR THREE FOOD AID BOXES TAHRIR DISTRICT, EAST OF MOSUL, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET IN TAHRIR DISTRICT MAN WALKING IN STREET BLOCKED OFF AT ONE END BY CONCRETE SLABS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COUNTER TERRORISM SERVICE (CTS), MAJOR SALAM JASSIM, SAYING: "The forces are offering humanitarian aid, besides feeding families and offering medical services for them. They also continue their advance, taking one neighbourhood after another. The plan is going steadily according to the schedule set by top commanders." MILITARY VEHICLES VARIOUS OF TANK WITH TROOPS SKYLINE OF TAHRIR DISTRICT PLUME OF SMOKE RISING FROM BEHIND HOUSES PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET / CTS VEHICLE AT ENTRANCE OF STREET
- Embargoed: 5th December 2016 16:10
- Keywords: Iraq Mosul Tahrir aid
- Location: MOSUL, IRAQ
- City: MOSUL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA0015990QPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Food and water were distributed on Sunday (November 20) to residents in parts of eastern Mosul recently recaptured from Islamic State.
Men, women and children rushed towards distribution trucks as boxes of aid were handed out by members of the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) and employees of Iraq's Ministry of Migration and Displacement.
People said they had suffered from lack of food and water while living under the control of Islamic State.
"We suffer from mortars and sniper fire. We also suffer from the absence of electricity. We cannot operate generators because we do not have gasoline. The delivery of water depends on the availability of electricity, therefore, when we do not have electricity, we will not have water. We have to take water from wells. There is no fuel either," said Abu Ahmed, a resident of Zahraa neighbourhood.
Militants have been steadily retreating from areas around Mosul into the city since the battle started on Oct. 17, with air and ground support from a U.S.-led coalition.
As the offensive entered its second month, Iraqi government forces are still fighting in a dozen of about 50 neighbourhoods on the eastern part of Mosul, which is divided by the Tigris River that runs through its centre.
Counter Terrorism Service Major Salam Jassim said the forces were "taking one neighbourhood after another" and that the plan was "going steadily, according to the schedule set by top commanders."
Iraqi authorities have not published a casualty toll for the Mosul campaign overall - either for security forces, civilians or Islamic State fighters. The warring sides claim to have inflicted thousands of casualties in enemy ranks.
Nearly 59,000 people have been displaced because of the fighting, moving from villages and towns around the city to government-held areas, according to U.N. estimates.
The figure does not include the thousands of people rounded up in villages around Mosul and forced to accompany Islamic State fighters to cover their retreat towards the city as human shields. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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