Civilians arrive at UNHCR refugee camp as Iraq's push for Mosul intensifies

Record ID: 84278

  • Title: Civilians arrive at UNHCR refugee camp as Iraq's push for Mosul intensifies
  • Date: 20th October 2016
  • Summary: DEBAGA CAMP, IRAQ (OCTOBER 20, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEBAGA REFUGEE CAMP, LOCATED 40 KM. SOUTH OF ERBIL VARIOUS OF REFUGEES IN CAMP FAMILY EATING RICE, BEANS GIRL FEEDING HER YOUNGER SISTER RICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RECENT ARRIVAL TO DEBAGA, UM SAMER, SAYING: "The road coming here was very difficult, mines and challenges on the way, it was very difficult." VARIOUS OF AID WORKER DISTRIBUTING RICE SUN / WOMEN, CHILDREN SITTING ON GROUND IN CAMP GIRL HOLDING BOWL OF RICE MANAGER OF DEBAGA CAMP, AHMAD ABDO, SPEAKING TO REFUGEES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MANAGER OF DEBAGA CAMP, AHMAD ABDO, SAYING: "We are operating beyond our capacity in order to keep up with their needs. In terms of shelter, we will soon begin transferring families to the new extension. We are now distributing non-food items, including mattresses and blankets." MAN DRAGGING BLANKETS, PILLOWS REFUGEES WAITING TO RECEIVE AID VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ALONG STREET IN CAMP
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2016 12:28
  • Keywords: Kurdish Peshmerga Islamic State IS Iraq Mosul Debaga camp refugees civilians UNHCR
  • Location: DEBAGA CAMP, IRAQ
  • City: DEBAGA CAMP, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA00154T8PJB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Civilians were arriving at the UNHCR's Debaga refugee camp in Iraq on Thursday (October 20) as the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga's operation to retake Mosul from Islamic State intensified.
    Debaga is one of five camps the UNHCR - the U.N.'s refugee agency - has opened and has the capacity to shelter 45,000 people, the agency says.
    The camp, located 40 km. (25 miles) south of the Kurdish capital of Erbil, is already home to more than 30,000.
    One recent arrival told Reuters they had faced a very difficult route to safety with "mines and challenges".
    The camp manager said his team was "operating beyond our capacity".
    The manager said on Wednesday (October 19) 100 and 150 families were arriving daily, comprising around 600 to 700 people.
    Iraqi Prime Minister Haider-al Abadi said on Thursday the operation, launched on Monday (October 17), was going faster than planned.
    Mosul is the last big city stronghold held by Islamic State in Iraq.
    The recent arrivals in Debaga were from Howeija and Shurkat regions, south of Mosul.
    The United Nations has said the battle would require the world's biggest and most complex humanitarian effort, which could leave up to one million people homeless and see civilians used as human shields or even gassed.
    There are already more than three million people displaced in Iraq as a result of conflicts involving Islamic State and up to 100,000 Iraqis may flee Mosul to Syria and Turkey.
    In Mosul itself, medicine is in short supply and food prices have risen sharply.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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