Hundres of Iraqi families flee towns near Mosul as battle against IS intensifies

Record ID: 83663

  • Title: Hundres of Iraqi families flee towns near Mosul as battle against IS intensifies
  • Date: 28th October 2016
  • Summary: KHAZAR, WEST OF ERBIL, IRAQ (OCTOBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK TRUCK DRIVING TOWARDS ENTRANCE TO REFUGEE CAMP PESHMERGA FORCES HELPING WOMEN AND CHILDREN OFF THE TRUCK / MAN CRYING AS HE HUGS WOMEN AND CHILDREN VARIOUS OF MAN CRYING AS HE HUGS RELATIVES PESHMERGA FORCES CARRYING A BABY OFF THE TRUCK OFFICIAL WITH THE BARZANI CHARITY FOUNDATION, BADR ELDIN, HANDING OUT WATER TO NEW ARRIVALS SITTING NEXT TO FENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OFFICIAL WITH THE BARZANI CHARITY FOUNDATION, BADR ELDIN, SAYING: "When the operation to liberate Nineveh and Mosul began, families living in villages near Bartella and Bashiqa, around 200-240 families, were received here and given all the basic necessities." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN JUMPING OFF THE TRUCK PESHMERGA FIGHTERS HELPING HELPING CHILDREN OFF THE TRUCK A PESHMERGA SOLDIER HOLDING A CHILD AND GIVING IT BACK TO ITS MOTHER VARIOUS OF PESHMERGA SOLDIERS HELPING CHILDREN OFF THE TRUCK WOMEN AND CHILDREN SITTING ON THE GROUND NEAR FENCE CHILD DRINKING WATER DISPLACED WOMEN AND CHILDREN SITTING ON THE GROUND NEAR A FENCE PESHMERGA FORCES STANDING / MEN SITTING NEAR A FENCE
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2016 15:07
  • Keywords: Iraq families flee refugees battle Mosul Islamic State fighting
  • Location: KHAZER, IRAQ
  • City: KHAZER, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA00155X6GXZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Iraqi men, women and children displaced by the battle of Mosul sought shelter in newly established refugee camps on Friday (October 28) as fighting between coalition forces and Islamic State militants intensifies.
    Some fled fearing retaliation by jihadists while others wanted to avoid the ongoing clashes and air-strikes in the area.
    Many walked or drove for hours from the village of Abu Jarboa, carrying their most precious possessions, until they reached the newly established Khazer refugee camp, located West of Erbil.
    An aid official with the Barzani Charity Foundation said families were being given basic aid necessities on arrival. "When the operation to liberate Nineveh and Mosul began, families living in villages near Bartella and Bashiqa, around 200-240 families, were received here and given all the basic necessities," said Eldin.
    The Mosul campaign aims to retake the city from Islamic State fighters and crush the Iraqi half of the extremist group's declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria. It may become the biggest battle in the 13 years of turmoil triggered by the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
    Some 1.5 million residents remain in the city and worst-case forecasts see up to a million being uprooted, according to the United Nations.
    U.N. aid agencies said the fighting has so far forced more than 8,000 to flee their homes.
    At least 50 percent of refugees fleeing the operation to retake Mosul will be children, according to the UNICEF.
    There are already more than three million people displaced in Iraq as a result of conflicts involving Islamic State.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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