Iraqi bridge is sole link for Mosul residents rebuilding lives

Record ID: 903720

  • Title: Iraqi bridge is sole link for Mosul residents rebuilding lives
  • Date: 22nd July 2017
  • Summary: MOSUL, IRAQ (JULY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AND CAR CROSSING OVER BRIDGE PEOPLE CROSSING BRIDGE ON FOOT PEOPLE APPROACHING BRIDGE ON FOOT PEOPLE PUTTING GOODS IN TRUNK OF CAR MEN IN PICK-UP TRUCK APPROACHING BRIDGE MEN PUTTING BELONGINGS INTO TRUNK OF CAR PEOPLE WALKING ALONG ROAD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN FROM WEST MOSUL, JASSIM (SECOND NAME UNKNOWN), SAYING: "It (west Mosul) is a deserted area. You can only see cars coming and going. You cannot see people living there, no groceries and no basic needs. We went there and came back. There is no means of life there." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ALONG ROAD TOWARDS BRIDGE PEOPLE APPROACHING CHECKPOINT MEMBERS OF IRAQI FORCES ON ENTRANCE TO BRIDGE CHECKING IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS OF MEN MAN OPENING SUITCASE FOR SECURITY CHECK BEFORE CROSSING BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN FROM WEST MOSUL, MOHAMMED FARIS, SAYING: "God willing, security will be restored and water and healthcare will be made available and reconstruction will be enhanced." JOURNALIST ASKING: "Can you describe living conditions in west side (of Mosul)?" FARIS SAYING: "There are no people and no life there. Life has ceased in the west side. All the people crossed to the east side where life is going on." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CARRYING LUGGAGE TOWARDS BRIDGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) WOMAN FROM WEST MOSUL, UMM KHALED, SAYING: "They (Iraqi military) said that our areas were liberated, so we went to see our houses and we found them levelled to the ground. No furniture, no house, no nothing." JOURNALIST ASKING: "Are there any services?" KHALED, SAYING: "No, there are no services. Some of the areas already have them, but not our area. Our areas are ghost towns. You can smell death and the scale of damage is huge." JOURNALIST ASKING: "What is your demand?" KHALED, SAYING: "We demand a compensation. I lost a sister too. She stepped on a bomb while fleeing and died. Thanks to God." CHILD CARRYING BAG VARIOUS OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN SITTING ON BACK OF PICK-UP TRUCK WITH BELONGINGS
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2017 10:21
  • Keywords: Mosul bridge sole link Iraqis rebuilding lives
  • Location: MOSUL, IRAQ
  • City: MOSUL, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016QSSY87
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: On a pontoon bridge connecting East and West Mosul, residents of a city shattered by the battle to expel Islamic State cross back and forth trying to rebuild their lives from the rubble.
    The temporary structure, known as the Victory Bridge, is the only crossing over the Tigris River in the city itself. Other bridges, including the landmark Iron Bridge, were wrecked in nine months of urban warfare which saw Iraqi government forces fight the militants street-by-street and house-by-house.
    With Mosul back in government hands, hundreds of people stream over each day to check homes in the devastated west side, salvage belongings or find a place to stay in the east.
    All have tales of hardship and suffering under three years of Islamic State rule and, despite their relief that is over, now they are worried about their present predicament and the future.
    Many people from West Mosul, where whole neighbourhoods were flattened in air and artillery strikes by a U.S.-led coalition, are struggling to pay rent in temporary accommodation. Often they have no work and are running out of funds.
    Civilians must walk across the bridge, which was erected for military purposes. Taxis halt on the east side about half a km (mile) away for soldiers to check papers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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