Mosul

Displaced Residents from Mosul Seek Shelter at Camps

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• published: 06 Nov 2016
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A large number of displaced residents are taking shelter in nearby camps as the three-week-old offensive by Iraqi security forces to recapture the city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS) extremists intensifies. Families and friends separated for more than two years by IS's grip on Mosul have finally been reunited. "I haven't seen my cousin in three years. My cousin was in Gogjali and I was in Sulaymaniyah," said a man who visited his displaced relatives. More than 22,000 Iraqi people have now managed to flee Mosul's eastern districts and surrounding areas. A camp near Mosul was built just a few weeks ago, and just a few days ago it was still almost empty, but now it's almost completely full. Aid agencies have said that the people here are just coming from the outskirts or the villages around Mosul, the real outflow of displaced people from the city has not yet begun. The United Nations has warned that up to one million people could flee the fighting. "We are incredibly concerned about the future. We are expecting a lot more people to come as the military operations move forward so it will be very challenging to accommodate all these people, especially as these camps are still being constructed," said Elisabeth Koek, an advocacy and information adviser for Iraq with the Norwegian Refugee Council. For early arrivers like Khder Sultan Ramadan and the families of his four children, this is enough for now. "We received food and we received materials like a mattress, blankets and pillows and also one tent for each family," he said. But it's no replacement for home. "God willing, if I get an opportunity I will go back to my own village because I have my own house and my own sheep and I can raise them," he added. Life under IS occupation was so horrible that a 12-year-old displaced girl, Safya, said she was told by extremists to train with a gun and to marry her brothers who were then arrested on the way to the camp last night. "Because of IS, two of my brothers were arrested by the militia. All this happened because of IS. Even right now I don't know where my brothers are," she said. More camps are already being built, but they can still only shelter tens of thousands, not for those who are expected to desperately need shelter, food and water in the days and weeks ahead. More on：http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20161106/8035987.shtml#!language=1 Subscribe us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CCTVPlus CCTV+ official website: http://www.cctvplus.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cctv-news-content Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsContent.CCTVPLUS Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCTV_Plus