- Title: Aid agencies brace for refugee exodus from Iraq's Mosul
- Date: 4th October 2016
- Summary: DEBAGA CAMP, SOUTH ERBIL, IRAQ (RECENT, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING IN CAMP, SEEN BEHIND WIRE FENCE VARIOUS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE WAITING TO RECEIVE AID REFUGEES, INCLUDING WOMEN HOLDING BABIES, WAITING IN LINE OUTSIDE OF OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) WOMEN AND CHILDREN SITTING AT FOOT OF WALL IN CAMP WOMEN AND CHILDREN WAITING IN LINE TO RECEIVE AID REFUGEES WAITING OUTSIDE DOOR WOMEN HOLDING YOUNG CHILDREN / IOM SIGN IN BACKGROUND VARIOUS OF PHARMACY OF CAMP / PHARMACISTS HANDING MEDICINE TO PEOPLE WAITING AT WINDOWS MEDICINES ON PHARMACY SHELVES (SOUNDBITE) (Kurdish) DIRECTOR OF DEBAGA CAMP, RIZQAR OBEED, SAYING: "The number of the displaced people at Debaga camp is currently 39,000, and the number is on the rise. We are receiving 400-500 persons daily and the number jumps to thousands during operations to liberate areas. The main problem we face is the lack of space to accommodate all the displaced people." TENTS YOUNG MEN SITTING UNDER TENT AND EATING (SOUNDBITE) (Kurdish) DIRECTOR OF DEBAGA CAMP, RIZQAR OBEED, SAYING: "As preparations for Mosul liberation operations have already started, we decided to build a compound of three camps in the area of Hassam Shakh, as more than one million people are expected to be displaced and this will add another burden onto the humanitarian organizations." LONG QUEUE OF DISPLACED PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE CAMP'S FENCE TO RECEIVE AID DISPLACED PEOPLE BEHIND CAMP'S FENCE / MEN CARRYING AID WALKING TOWARDS GATE WOMEN WALKING THROUGH GATE NON-FOOD ITEMS LAID OUT ON THE GROUND WORKERS DISTRIBUTING AID TO THE DISPLACED AID FROM IOM, INCLUDING BLANKETS AND FAN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED WOMAN FROM A VILLAGE IN SHIRQAT, UMM NOOR, SAYING: "We fled at night and we walked more than seven hours carrying water and our children on our backs and shoulders until we arrived here. We arrived here at night leaving our houses and money behind. (QUESTION: "How is the living condition here?") Thank God, we get aid…. (INAUDIBLE QUESTION) God willing, our areas will be liberated and we can return to our areas and our homes." IOM EMPLOYEE TAKING SELFIE WITH GROUP OF DISPLACED CHILDREN GATHERED BEHIND WIRE FENCE SACKS OF NON-FOOD ITEMS ON THE GROUND / PEOPLE UNLOADING AID PACKAGES FROM TRUCK AT CAMP PEOPLE CARRYING AID PACKAGES UNLOADED FROM TRUCK (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION (IOM) IN IRAQ, SANDRA BLACK, SAYING: "The International Organisation for Migration in Iraq is very concerned about recent displacement from Nineveh governorate, from Salahuddin. More than 96,000 Iraqis have been displaced within the last two months. IOM is providing non-food item kits, shelter support, health assistance and transportation to move Iraqis to safe areas." ROW OF TENTS AT CAMP FAMILY SITTING INSIDE TENT GROUP OF CHILDREN INSIDE TENT MAN ADJUSTING AIR-COOLER VENT ROWS OF TENTS AT CAMP
- Embargoed: 19th October 2016 12:34
- Keywords: Debaga camp refugee Erbil Iraq Kurdish displaced IOM International Organisation for Migration
- Location: DEBAGA CAMP, SOUTH ERBIL, IRAQ
- City: DEBAGA CAMP, SOUTH ERBIL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00152L82MT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: As Iraq prepares for an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State, aid agencies in the area say they're struggling to find land to house the massive exodus of people expected as soon as the battle begins.
The Iraqi government-led offensive, expected to "start soon" according to France's defence minister, will target the militant group's de factor capital in Iraq and is backed by France and the U.S.
Up to 1.2 million people could be affected by the military offensive, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said.
It's planning to create camps in up to six locations across northern Iraq but says finding land has become a "critical issue" fraught with difficulties.
The Debaga camp, south of the Iraqi Kurdistan capital of Erbil, is currently housing near 40,000 displaced people and continuing to receive more people daily.
"The number of the displaced people at Debaga camp is currently 39,000, and the number is on the rise. We are receiving 400-500 persons daily and the number jumps to thousands during operations to liberate areas. The main problem we face is the lack of space to accommodate all the displaced people," said Rizqar Obeed, director of Debaga camp.
At first the displaced would be given temporary shelter in school buildings before relocating to the camp, where residents get two meals a day offered by the Barzani Foundation, a Kurdish charity that runs the camp, he said.
According to Obeed, the Kurdish government has already started construction of a compound of three camps in the area.
"As preparations for Mosul liberation operations have already started, we decided to build a compound of three camps in the area of Hassam Shakh, as more than one million people are expected to be displaced and this will add another burden onto the humanitarian organizations," said Obeed.
In the best case scenario, the U.N. says 300,000 people will be displaced for three months, requiring an aid budget of $143 million.
In the worst case, one million people will be displaced for one year, which could cost $1.8 billion.
In any case, aid agencies need two and a half months of lead time and $284 million before the assault on Mosul starts. If funding comes too late, they will be unable to respond appropriately, said a U.N. document.
One woman who fled from a village south of Mosul said she was grateful for the aid she has received.
"We fled at night and we walked more than seven hours carrying water and our children on our backs and shoulders until we arrived here. We arrived here at night leaving our houses and money behind. Thank God, we get aid. God willing, our areas will be liberated and we can return to our areas and our homes," said Umm Noor, a displaced woman from a village in Shirqat, which lies on the Tigris River 100 km (60 miles) south of Mosul.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has voiced concern over the large-scale displacement of people caused by recent military operations to liberate towns in Shirqat and Qayyara.
"The International Organisation for Migration in Iraq is very concerned about recent displacement from Nineveh governorate, from Salahuddin. More than 96,000 Iraqis have been displaced within the last two months. IOM is providing non-food item kits, shelter support, health assistance and transportation to move Iraqis to safe areas," said Sandra Black, IOM spokesperson in Iraq.
The United Nations asked for $861 million in January this year for Iraq, the minimum needed to keep people alive, knowing that it was unlikely to get the $4.5 billion needed to offer 10 million Iraqis international standards of care, the document said.
However, less than 40 percent of that appeal has been received, stopping 99 frontline aid programmes and hindering assistance for 85,000 people who have fled from Falluja.
U.S. and Iraqi officials have said the push on Mosul could begin in October, though there are concerns that not enough planning has been done for how to manage Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, if and when Islamic State is kicked out. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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