- Title: Syrians flee Raqqa amid offensive against Islamic State
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Summary: NEAR AIN ISSA, RAQQA, SYRIA (NOVEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE SITTING IN BACK OF PICK-UP TRUCK VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE STANDING BY SIDE OF ROAD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING ON GROUND VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING IN AND STANDING NEAR PICK-UP TRUCKS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING IN BACK OF PICK-UP TRUCKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED MAN, HAMEED SALMAN, SAYING: "We left our house because the clashes took place over our heads. It was hard to escape, we left as bullets flew by, I was with my family, we left our homes and everything behind. We walked for a while before the Syrian Democratic forces helped us get here to the Ain. We spent a night in the cold, with no food, we have not eaten since yesterday." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED WOMAN, FADWA HUSSEIN, SAYING: "We escaped our homes to the wilderness when the clashes began, we asked the (Democratic Forces) what to do, and they said leave your homes, escape to the west, so we did that and came here. Thank god we are safe and our children are safe." CHILDREN STANDING CONVOY OF TRUCKS CARRYING DISPLACED PEOPLE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING NEAR TRUCKS WOMAN STANDING AMID TRUCKS CARRYING VARIOUS ITEMS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING NEAR TRUCKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED WOMAN, NOFA MOHAMMED, SAYING: "Everything was expensive, nothing was accessible, we could not move around easily, we could not talk openly, nothing. We were exhausted. What can I tell you about the past six years, it felt like 60 years not six." PEOPLE STANDING NEAR TRUCKS MOTHER CARRYING HER CHILD SITTING NEXT TO BOY ELDERLY WOMAN LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING TO BOARD TRUCK GIRL CARRYING A CHILD PEOPLE WALKING NEAR TRUCK CARRYING PEOPLE
- Embargoed: 25th November 2016 18:37
- Keywords: Ain Issa Raqqa Syria displaced refugees Islamic State
- Location: NEAR AIN ISSA, RAQQA, SYRIA
- City: NEAR AIN ISSA, RAQQA, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00157V3Z9J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dozens of Syrian families fled the outskirts of the Islamic State-controlled city of Raqqa on Thursday (November 10), as Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began an offensive to recapture the city from the jihadists.
The men, women and children were heading towards the nearby Ain Issa village, which is controlled by the SDF, a U.S.-backed alliance of Syrian armed groups.
One SDF fighter estimated up to 5,000 people had fled their homes.
Many said they spent several days in the wilderness before finally being picked up by the Democratic forces, who transported them to the village.
The alliance launched the campaign for Raqqa late on Saturday.
Islamic State has been dug in the province for nearly three years.
Raqqa is the Syrian bastion of Islamic State, from where it runs training camps and directs operations.
The group has been overseeing civilian life in the city including bakeries, banks, schools and mosques. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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