The number of civilians being forced out of their homes in and around Mosul is increasing, as the offensive side led by Iraqi and coalition forces continues on after six weeks of intense fighting.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced this week that Islamic State (IS) will collapse in Mosul. But the campaign comprised of international and local air and ground forces is moving slowly, only about a tenth of Mosul has been taken back from the grip of IS so far.
Civilians trapped inside Mosul are facing a tragic fate. For those who can flee, they take every chance to flee. But they refuse to appear on camera, as some of them say the IS terrorists claimed if anyone fleeing has been identified, they will kill family members who are still inside the city.
After fleeing from the city, the civilians will board trucks bound for internally displaced person (IDP) camps, where more than 70,000 people are sheltered. Three of the six camps are at full capacity now. With a potential influx of more than a million people expected to come to the camps, the UNHCR is making contingency plans.
"For the time being we do have, we do have space in camps but we are also, at the same time, looking for additional land and building more camps to make sure that in case in the event of an influx, we do have space to accommodate people," said Bathoul Ahmed, the UNHCR spokesperson in Mosul.
There are also some civilians returning to liberated neighborhoods, although they have been retaken from IS, they are not necessarily stable.
Still others choose not to leave, even though there are bombs going off around the neighborhood.
"It's better to me to die than live with Daesh(IS)," said a resident in Mosul.
In other words, it is better to stand his ground in his home than letting IS take control of it.
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