Over 100,000 Iraqis displaced since Mosul operation: UN

By Ibrahim Saleh, Ali Jawad and Ahmed Qassim

BAGHDAD (AA) – Around 100,000 people have been displaced from Mosul since a major offensive was launched in October to recapture the Daesh-held city in northern Iraq, the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said.

In a Saturday statement, UNAMI said more than 106,400 individuals have been displaced by Mosul operations since October 17.

While 9,500 of the displaced have returned to their places of origin, UNAMI said, more than 99,300 Iraqis are still displaced.

Last week, Iraq’s Ministry of Migration said more than 107,000 people have been displaced since the anti-Daesh offensive began in Mosul.

For his part, Eyad Rafed of the Iraqi Red Crescent warned of a worsening humanitarian situation as civilians flee areas which are under the range of fire by Daesh militants.

“Around 1,500 civilians have been transferred to displacement camps south of Mosul in the past 24 hours,” he told Anadolu Agency.

Iraqi officials have vowed to recapture Mosul -- which was overran by Daesh along with vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq -- by year’s end.