U.N. concerned by estimated 30,000 to 50,000 civilians trapped in Raqqa

Record ID: 898914

  • Title: U.N. concerned by estimated 30,000 to 50,000 civilians trapped in Raqqa
  • Date: 11th July 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JULY 11, 2017) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING U.N. WEEKLY NEWS BRIEFING ONGOING JOURNALISTS AND U.N. STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY 'UNHCR' SPOKESMAN, ANDREJ MAHECIC, SAYING: "The U.N. estimates that between 30,000 and 50,000 people remain trapped in Raqqa city, although certainly over numbers, getting the precise number is difficult given the lack of access. Availability of food, water, medicine, electricity and other essentials has been dwindling, with the situation rapidly deteriorating. It is imperative that trapped civilians are able to secure a safe passage out to reach safety, shelter and protection." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY 'UNHCR' SPOKESMAN, ANDREJ MAHECIC, SAYING: "Over the June alone, 20,000 people have left the city. We see a trend in which about a 100 to 200 families manage to get out of the city in some way, either by using smuggler routes, either by risking their lives during the combats, and essentially try to reach the safety, but on average it's about a 100 to 200 families every day." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY 'UNHCR' SPOKESMAN, ANDREJ MAHECIC, SAYING: "Those who attempt to leave the city expose themselves to massive risks. They either chose to, they either have to make a choice to remain and risk dying in the fighting, in the fierce fighting, or risking becoming targets as they flee. We have seen a similar situation, a similar pattern, a similar modus operandi in Mosul." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2017 12:43
  • Keywords: United Nations UNHCR Raqqa refugees Andrej Mahecic Syria
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016P9WQPZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:An estimated 30,000 to 50,000 civilians are still trapped in Raqqa in Syria where they are either unable to flee, or are targeted by Islamic State militants if they try to escape, the U.N. refugee agency said on Tuesday (July 11), during a news briefing in Geneva.
    According to the agency, 190,000 have been displaced from and within the Raqqa governorate since the military operation to retake the Syrian city begun in April, and in June alone 20,000 people have managed to flee from the city.
    An average of 100 to 200 families a day are now managing to get out of Raqqa, taking risks of being shot by militants.
    More aid however is reaching these new displaced people, with the opening of a road from Aleppo to Menbij and Qamishli, in Syria's north-eastern Hassakeh governorate, which had remained closed over the last two years because of fighting.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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