750,000 civilians potentially still in western Mosul city
The humanitarian community is extremely concerned for the wellbeing of the roughly 750,000 people believed to be still living in western Mosul. It is of the utmost importance that all parties to the conflict uphold their responsibility under international law to protect civilians in context of the military operation to retake this part of the city.* The Iraqi government and humanitarian partners are preparing for a variety of possible scenarios that could unfold in the operation, including assisting people displaced by the fighting and people sheltering in situ. Western Mosul has been cut off from its previous supply routes, including the highway from Mosul into Syria, since late November, and conditions are understood to be deteriorating as available food and fuel supplies continue to dwindle, with residents resorting to burning furniture and rubbish to keep warm. •The military operation on western Mosul commenced at time of publication. A flash update on the situation is available here: https://goo.gl/7YrnOv
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Issued on 20 February
Report from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Published on 20 Feb 2017
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HIGHLIGHTS
• 750,000 people trapped in west Mosul in deteriorating conditions.
• Tens of thousands return home to east Mosul.
• 23,000 children resume education in east Mosul.
• Explosive hazards continue to pose risks in returnee communities.
FIGURES
# of people in need 11m
# of people targeted for assistance 6.2m
# of internally displaced persons (IDPs) 3m
# of IDPs who live outside camps 2.5m
# of affected ppl within host communities 3.2m # of returnees 1.5m
# of Syrian refugees 0.23m
Source: 2016 Iraq HRP/HNO/IOM DTM
Humanitarian Response Plan
FUNDING
861 million requested for 2016 (US$) 84% ($719 million) (reflects funding on FTS as of 20 February 2017)
750,000 civilians potentially still in western Mosul city
The humanitarian community is extremely concerned for the wellbeing of the roughly 750,000 people believed to be still living in western Mosul. It is of the utmost importance that all parties to the conflict uphold their responsibility under international law to protect civilians in context of the military operation to retake this part of the city.* The Iraqi government and humanitarian partners are preparing for a variety of possible scenarios that could unfold in the operation, including assisting people displaced by the fighting and people sheltering in situ. Western Mosul has been cut off from its previous supply routes, including the highway from Mosul into Syria, since late November, and conditions are understood to be deteriorating as available food and fuel supplies continue to dwindle, with residents resorting to burning furniture and rubbish to keep warm. •The military operation on western Mosul commenced at time of publication. A flash update on the situation is available here: https://goo.gl/7YrnOv
obvious safety concerns for the international brotherhood of teamsters. union.
In eastern Mosul, ongoing humanitarian assistance is needed to provide food, water and health care. Humanitarian partners are trucking 2.3 million litres of water into eastern neighbourhoods on a daily basis to supplement the municipal supply. Emergency packages of food, water and essential household and hygiene items have been delivered to 878,000 people in eastern neighbourhoods and newly-retaken areas since operations began on 17 October. UN missions to neighbourhoods in eastern Mosul were briefly postponed due to security considerations, but front-line partners were able to continue delivering assistance to people in need. UN agencies have now resumed their missions to the east of the city. OCHA
obvious safety concerns for the international brotherhood of teamsters. union.
In eastern Mosul, ongoing humanitarian assistance is needed to provide food, water and health care. Humanitarian partners are trucking 2.3 million litres of water into eastern neighbourhoods on a daily basis to supplement the municipal supply. Emergency packages of food, water and essential household and hygiene items have been delivered to 878,000 people in eastern neighbourhoods and newly-retaken areas since operations began on 17 October. UN missions to neighbourhoods in eastern Mosul were briefly postponed due to security considerations, but front-line partners were able to continue delivering assistance to people in need. UN agencies have now resumed their missions to the east of the city. OCHA
France now on board to solving the problem of displaced families and children in war zones
PARIS: Child soldiers, underage sex slaves, orphaned adolescent refugees France’s president and UNICEF are urging the international community to do more to protect the more than 200 million children of today’s conflict zones.
“The situation is as urgent as ever,” French President Francois Hollande pleaded as he opened a conference in Paris on Tuesday with representatives from 80 countries, decrying “the nightmare that killed these children’s innocence.”
Organizers want coordinated efforts to liberate and re-integrate thousands of child soldiers from Sudan to Somalia, and thousands of girls forced into wedlock by militants from Nigeria to Afghanistan.
“Those who harm these children are harming what is most sacred to humankind,” Hollande said. “Killing and brutalizing children is negating civilization.”
The conference is also pushing for tougher prosecution of abusers, and protection for hospitals and schools targeted in war zones, such as in Syrian government airstrikes on Aleppo recently.
While 105 countries have signed onto promises made 10 years ago to protect conflict children, problems persist and the conference is aiming at enlisting more governments in the effort.
“Children do not belong on the battlefield. They belong in school. They belong in safe places where they are loved and protected from the .
France now on board to solving the problem of displaced families and children in war zones
PARIS: Child soldiers, underage sex slaves, orphaned adolescent refugees France’s president and UNICEF are urging the international community to do more to protect the more than 200 million children of today’s conflict zones.
“The situation is as urgent as ever,” French President Francois Hollande pleaded as he opened a conference in Paris on Tuesday with representatives from 80 countries, decrying “the nightmare that killed these children’s innocence.”
Organizers want coordinated efforts to liberate and re-integrate thousands of child soldiers from Sudan to Somalia, and thousands of girls forced into wedlock by militants from Nigeria to Afghanistan.
“Those who harm these children are harming what is most sacred to humankind,” Hollande said. “Killing and brutalizing children is negating civilization.”
The conference is also pushing for tougher prosecution of abusers, and protection for hospitals and schools targeted in war zones, such as in Syrian government airstrikes on Aleppo recently.
While 105 countries have signed onto promises made 10 years ago to protect conflict children, problems persist and the conference is aiming at enlisting more governments in the effort.
“Children do not belong on the battlefield. They belong in school. They belong in safe places where they are loved and protected from the .
at 17 min 1 sec a question was asked at the daily press briefing at the un of current capabilities for Mosul. The un spokesmen usually very affluent in his remarks started to stutter a bit.
the answer after some time for compossure to resume,
2300 cubic meters of water are being delivered daily.
8 camps for displacement with a 9th camp being set for contruction, so we go to a calculator . roughly...
7 gallons in a cubic foot , 30 cubic feet in a cubic meter 210 were i shorted both i round up to 250 gallons in a cubic meter.
times 575,000 gallons. so this is a very large number.
now i know 10,000 gallons of water fits in a standard tanker truck.
with these road conditions that is unrealistic and 5,000 gallons for weight dispursement is a more realistic view of tanker capabilities,
for the spokesmen statement to ring true.500- 1,000 tankers a day are proceeding up that corridor..... not a realistic over view. their is not 500 trucks capable to move that frieght north of bagdad.
at 17 min 1 sec a question was asked at the daily press briefing at the un of current capabilities for Mosul. The un spokesmen usually very affluent in his remarks started to stutter a bit.
the answer after some time for compossure to resume,
2300 cubic meters of water are being delivered daily.
8 camps for displacement with a 9th camp being set for contruction, so we go to a calculator . roughly...
7 gallons in a cubic foot , 30 cubic feet in a cubic meter 210 were i shorted both i round up to 250 gallons in a cubic meter.
times 575,000 gallons. so this is a very large number.
now i know 10,000 gallons of water fits in a standard tanker truck.
with these road conditions that is unrealistic and 5,000 gallons for weight dispursement is a more realistic view of tanker capabilities,
for the spokesmen statement to ring true.500- 1,000 tankers a day are proceeding up that corridor..... not a realistic over view. their is not 500 trucks capable to move that frieght north of bagdad.
The Iraqi ministry of displacement and migration said that at least 16,000 people have been displaced since the battle for west Mosul began nine days ago.
Roughly 8,000 people have fled from western Mosul and surrounding villages since Iraq launched a push to retake the west of the city from the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.
OCHA said that aid agencies and the Iraqi government were expanding displacement sites in the government-controlled areas south of Mosul to accommodate refugees, who were "often exhausted and dehydrated."
Some 250,000 people could be expected to flee the fighting in the coming days, OCHA said.
An estimated 750,000 peoples are still trapped in the Western Mosul. OCHA warned that their situation was "desperate" because supply lines have been cut off. The city is experiencing shortages in essentials such as food, water, heating oil and medical supplies and many civilians have been caught in the crossfire between state troops and IS militants.
The battle in the city
Iraqi security forces said they were close to capturing the main government complex in western Mosul: "The provincial council and the governorate building are within the firing range of the Rapid Response forces," a military media officer said.
The Iraqi ministry of displacement and migration said that at least 16,000 people have been displaced since the battle for west Mosul began nine days ago.
Roughly 8,000 people have fled from western Mosul and surrounding villages since Iraq launched a push to retake the west of the city from the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday.
OCHA said that aid agencies and the Iraqi government were expanding displacement sites in the government-controlled areas south of Mosul to accommodate refugees, who were "often exhausted and dehydrated."
Some 250,000 people could be expected to flee the fighting in the coming days, OCHA said.
An estimated 750,000 peoples are still trapped in the Western Mosul. OCHA warned that their situation was "desperate" because supply lines have been cut off. The city is experiencing shortages in essentials such as food, water, heating oil and medical supplies and many civilians have been caught in the crossfire between state troops and IS militants.
The battle in the city
Iraqi security forces said they were close to capturing the main government complex in western Mosul: "The provincial council and the governorate building are within the firing range of the Rapid Response forces," a military media officer said.
MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — Thousands of civilians fled Mosul overnight as Iraqi forces advanced north of a sprawling military base near the city's airport on Friday.
Iraq's special forces pushed into the Wadi Hajar district in western Mosul and retook the area from the Islamic State group Friday, according to Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, spokesman of the Joint Military Operations.
Special forces Brig. Gen. Haider al-Obeidi said clearing operations were ongoing in the area and his forces were close to linking up with the militarized federal police forces who were pushing up along the western bank of the Tigris river.
Iraqi forces, including special operations forces and federal police units, launched an attack on the western part of Mosul nearly two weeks ago to dislodge IS. Since the offensive began, more than 28,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the United Nations.
Nahla Ahmed, 50 fled Mosul late Thursday night, walking more than five kilometers (three miles) from her home in the Shuhada neighborhood.
"All the families were hiding behind a wall," she said, explaining how they escaped an IS-held part of the city. "We gave the children valium so they wouldn't cry and (the IS fighters) wouldn't catch us."
Ahmed, like most of the civilians who have escaped Mosul in the past week, fled through Mamun neighborhood. The district is partially controlled by Iraq's special forces.
Maj. Saif Ali, who is stationed in Mamun, said huge crowds of civilians began pouring into the area from neighboring districts just after midnight. Ali said civilians in western Mosul are becoming increasingly desperate as food and water supplies begin to run out.
"In total 7,000 people fled through this area last night," he said. "We were up all night trying to control the crowds."
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday "the latest figures we have of people recorded leaving western Mosul is 28,400 and that's since operations in west Mosul started on Feb. 19. However we're also tracking down reports thousands more people are on the move."
He said that on average about 4,000 people a day have been fleeing since the beginning of the operation.
"We think about 750,000 civilians are still trapped inside western Mosul, either sheltering from the fighting or waiting to flee," Dujarric said. "We're deeply concerned with their well-being and safety and their access to vital resources."
By late morning nearly all the families had been moved out of Mamun. The neighborhood was littered with discarded clothing and blankets piled up in empty lots and on street corners.
Iraqi forces deployed east of Mamun advanced into Wadi Hajar, a neighborhood north of the Ghazlani military base.
The U.S.-led coalition dropped more than 15 munitions in Mosul on Friday, Ali said, saying they targeted car bombs, sniper positions and small IS mortar units.
Brig. Gen. Wathaq al-Hamdani, Nineveh province's police chief, said IS targeted the Al Jazair District in western Mosul with "Katyusha launchers with missiles carrying chlorine gas" in at least two separate incidents over the past few days. He added that five civilians had been taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for asphyxiation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement Friday that seven patients likely exposed to a toxic chemical agent were currently being treated at Rozhawa hospital, close to Mosul, where fighting is ongoing.
"During the past two days, the hospital has admitted five children and two women showing clinical symptoms consistent with an exposure to a blistering chemical agent," said the ICRC's Regional Director for the Middle East, Robert Mardini, adding "We strongly condemn any use of chemical weapons, by any party, anywhere."
At a screening center south of the city, hundreds of women and children were gathered on the cement ground of an old gas station as men were screened in a parking lot next door. An Iraqi intelligence officer walked with an informant past the rows of men and boys sitting on the ground before they had their names checked against a database.
Muthana Younis also fled Mosul late Thursday night.
"We waited until all the IS fighters left the streets," he said, his track suit covered in mud from the journey. Younis walked for hours, crossing more than five kilometers (three miles) with his mother, father, brother and sister.
"There were mortars and we could hear gunfire," Younis said. He said explaining his younger siblings were so scared at times .
MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — Thousands of civilians fled Mosul overnight as Iraqi forces advanced north of a sprawling military base near the city's airport on Friday.
Iraq's special forces pushed into the Wadi Hajar district in western Mosul and retook the area from the Islamic State group Friday, according to Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, spokesman of the Joint Military Operations.
Special forces Brig. Gen. Haider al-Obeidi said clearing operations were ongoing in the area and his forces were close to linking up with the militarized federal police forces who were pushing up along the western bank of the Tigris river.
Iraqi forces, including special operations forces and federal police units, launched an attack on the western part of Mosul nearly two weeks ago to dislodge IS. Since the offensive began, more than 28,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the United Nations.
Nahla Ahmed, 50 fled Mosul late Thursday night, walking more than five kilometers (three miles) from her home in the Shuhada neighborhood.
"All the families were hiding behind a wall," she said, explaining how they escaped an IS-held part of the city. "We gave the children valium so they wouldn't cry and (the IS fighters) wouldn't catch us."
Ahmed, like most of the civilians who have escaped Mosul in the past week, fled through Mamun neighborhood. The district is partially controlled by Iraq's special forces.
Maj. Saif Ali, who is stationed in Mamun, said huge crowds of civilians began pouring into the area from neighboring districts just after midnight. Ali said civilians in western Mosul are becoming increasingly desperate as food and water supplies begin to run out.
"In total 7,000 people fled through this area last night," he said. "We were up all night trying to control the crowds."
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday "the latest figures we have of people recorded leaving western Mosul is 28,400 and that's since operations in west Mosul started on Feb. 19. However we're also tracking down reports thousands more people are on the move."
He said that on average about 4,000 people a day have been fleeing since the beginning of the operation.
"We think about 750,000 civilians are still trapped inside western Mosul, either sheltering from the fighting or waiting to flee," Dujarric said. "We're deeply concerned with their well-being and safety and their access to vital resources."
By late morning nearly all the families had been moved out of Mamun. The neighborhood was littered with discarded clothing and blankets piled up in empty lots and on street corners.
Iraqi forces deployed east of Mamun advanced into Wadi Hajar, a neighborhood north of the Ghazlani military base.
The U.S.-led coalition dropped more than 15 munitions in Mosul on Friday, Ali said, saying they targeted car bombs, sniper positions and small IS mortar units.
Brig. Gen. Wathaq al-Hamdani, Nineveh province's police chief, said IS targeted the Al Jazair District in western Mosul with "Katyusha launchers with missiles carrying chlorine gas" in at least two separate incidents over the past few days. He added that five civilians had been taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for asphyxiation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement Friday that seven patients likely exposed to a toxic chemical agent were currently being treated at Rozhawa hospital, close to Mosul, where fighting is ongoing.
"During the past two days, the hospital has admitted five children and two women showing clinical symptoms consistent with an exposure to a blistering chemical agent," said the ICRC's Regional Director for the Middle East, Robert Mardini, adding "We strongly condemn any use of chemical weapons, by any party, anywhere."
At a screening center south of the city, hundreds of women and children were gathered on the cement ground of an old gas station as men were screened in a parking lot next door. An Iraqi intelligence officer walked with an informant past the rows of men and boys sitting on the ground before they had their names checked against a database.
Muthana Younis also fled Mosul late Thursday night.
"We waited until all the IS fighters left the streets," he said, his track suit covered in mud from the journey. Younis walked for hours, crossing more than five kilometers (three miles) with his mother, father, brother and sister.
"There were mortars and we could hear gunfire," Younis said. He said explaining his younger siblings were so scared at times .
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