Families in Fallujah face starvation and death

Around 5,000 families in Fallujah are facing starvation and death as food and medicines run out due to the siege imposed by the Iraqi security forces, AlKhaleejonline.com has reported. The siege is being imposed as part of the fight against Daesh, which has controlled the city since 2014.

“Medicines and food have run out,” said deputy mayor Saoun Al-Sha’lan, “and there are between 3,000 and 5,000 families locked in by Daesh.”

The Iraqi forces have blocked the supply of food and medicine, he added, so that it is not exploited by the extremist group. “However, they have to consider the needs of the people, who are the victims in all of this.” He noted that there have been a number of deaths as a direct result of the shortages.

Meanwhile, the head of the Iranian and international coalition forces in Iraq has called for safe passages to be created so that civilians can leave the city. It was pointed out that there is at least one agricultural road which is free of mines which the families could use.

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said in a report issued on Tuesday that Fallujah has been enduring difficult humanitarian circumstances for weeks due to the siege. “There are around 100,000 civilians besieged in the city and staying there puts their lives at risk,” it explained. The rights group called on the international community to help the civilians to get through the crisis, as some have resorted to eating grass in an effort to survive.