One month into Mosul battle, UN and partners 'profoundly concerned' for civilian safety

17 November 2016 - At the one-month mark of Iraqi military operations to oust terrorists from Mosul, the United Nations and its partners today said tens of thousands of families in newly retaken areas urgently requiring life-saving assistance and warned that the humanitarian community in Iraq faces a "massive scope" of need.

Expressing their "profound concern" in a joint statement, UN relief agencies and their partners underscored that these latest developments further exacerbate a humanitarian crisis in a country where 10 million people already were in need of aid. In newly retaken areas, schools, hospitals, and infrastructure - such as water and power plants - are damaged and medical services are often unavailable.

Families are going hungry as a result of loss of livelihoods, disruptions in food production and supply, and higher market prices. Water supplies and agricultural equipment have also been damaged, leading people to drink untreated well water. Children are not vaccinated, nor do they have access to formal education. Many require psychosocial support.

Furthermore, the agencies emphasized that the armed groups controlling Mosul have created both immediate and long term risks for people and the environment thanks to scorched earth tactics and improvised mines.

"Wherever we can, humanitarian partners are helping displaced people and vulnerable families in newly retaken communities," announced Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, who spoke on behalf of the humanitarian community.

"We are working as quickly as we can and in close coordination with Iraqi authorities to help some of the most at-risk people in the world," she added.

The agencies said that 13,000 displaced people are living with host communities or in public facilities. In addition, 69,000 have been given assistance within 48 hours of their displacement, including more than 114,000 who have received food rations, more than 14,300 recipients of emergency health services, more than 66,000 who were provided with emergency household items, and some 124,000 now have access to water, hygiene, and sanitation services.

More than 6,700 women and girls have received reproductive consultations, including life-saving assisted deliveries. 1,400 sessions have been held to support survivors of gender-based violence. Meanwhile, stakeholders are expanding shelter capacities and building new sites.

Donor support to the UN and NGOs has been critical, but more is urgently needed. Winter is approaching and families who fled their homes have virtually nothing to guard against the cold.

"The humanitarian community calls upon all parties in the conflict to take every possible measure to protect the rights and lives of civilians as part of their obligations under international humanitarian law," the statement concluded.