Bleak future for Mosul residents a month after city is taken back from Islamic State

Record ID: 905770

  • Title: Bleak future for Mosul residents a month after city is taken back from Islamic State
  • Date: 9th August 2017
  • Summary: WEST MOSUL, IRAQ (AUGUST 7, 2017) (REUTERS) DESTRUCTION IN A STREET IN THE OLD CITY VARIOUS OF IRAQI FORCES IN THE AREA VARIOUS OF THE HEAVILY DAMAGED AL-NURI MOSQUE MORE OF DESTROYED BUILDINGS SOLDIERS WALKING DOWN A STREET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN A MAKESHIFT TEA-SHOP MAN DRINKING TEA PEOPLE STIRRING SUGAR INTO TEA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF WEST MOSUL, ABDELFATTAH, SAYING: "We want life to return here, not for us the elderly, but for these children, the new generation, what fault have they committed? [They have] no schools, no education, no health care, nothing, here there is nothing. We want life to return so people will come back. We want them to ask about us, what we need, we have nothing. We just sit here all daily patiently waiting." VARIOUS OF THE VENDOR PREPARING TEA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TEA VENDOR AND RESIDENT OF WEST MOSUL, ZIYAD CHAICHI, SAYING: "(We came back) a week ago to the Dawlet Hammamin area. We came back, some stores are re-opening, thank God it is safe, some are returning to their stores and homes. But we need the area to be cleared, and the municipality to provide us with water. The basic necessities." VARIOUS OF WORKERS BUILDING WATER TANKS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF WEST MOSUL AND OWNER OF THE WORKSHOP, RAAD AZIZ, SAYING: "We came back two weeks ago. The area is full of destruction as a result of the military operation. My brothers and employees are here with me, as you know the living conditions are harsh, so we came back in order to work, we are preparing water tanks. We hope that everyone watching, especially those in this area, to return to their jobs, life is slowly returning." VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION / AN IRAQI FLAG SEEN OVER A BUILDING VARIOUS OF DEBRIS AND DESTRUCTION VARIOUS OF AN ARMOURED VEHICLE IN THE STREET
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2017 17:29
  • Keywords: Old city west Mosul Islamic State bleak future city retaken
  • Location: WEST MOSUL, IRAQ
  • City: WEST MOSUL, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016TFRKNB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:It took nine months to liberate Mosul from Islamic State which had declared Iraq's second largest city as their 'caliphate' in 2014.
    After the fiercest fighting which saw U.S.-backed Iraqi forces pushing out IS militants, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory on July 10.
    One month after the city has finally been rid of the last Islamic State militant, the city is still in ruins and residents who have been trickling back worry about their future.
    Mosul residents such as Abdelfattah and tea vendor Ziyad Chaichi say they feel safe but the lack of basic services is making it impossible for them to rebuild their lives.
    The United Nations estimates rebuilding Mosul will initially cost more than $1 billion.
    But some are optimistic like Raad Abdelaziz whose workshop making water tanks in nearby Dawrat al Hammameel neighbourhood is humming with activity.
    Thousands of civilians were killed during the Mosul offensive. Many were targeted by Islamic State but rights groups have also accused Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led coalition backing them of killings that violated international humanitarian law.
    Before the war, Mosul was known for its diversity, religious conservatism and nationalism. After the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, it became a base for al Qaeda and the Sunni insurgency.
    Since IS seized Mosul in 2014 in the face of the Iraqi army's collapse, the militants have blown up monuments, evicted communities that had lived together for centuries and turned neighbours against each other.
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