UN warns of huge displacement crisis in Iraq

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned of a huge displacement crisis in Iraq with the approach of a battle to retake the city of Mosul from Daesh’s control.

The UN agency said in a report on Tuesday that more than 200,000 Iraqis have fled their homes due to ongoing military operations, warning that the anticipated offensive in Mosul, Iraq’s second biggest city, could result, if prolonged, in the displacement of more than a million additional Iraqis.

UNHCR’s Representative in Iraq Bruno Geddo said: “Worse is yet to come. We predict that it could result in massive displacement on a scale not seen globally in many years.”

“We are building new camps and pre-positioning emergency relief kits to ensure people fleeing get rapid assistance. But even with the best-laid plans, there will be insufficient camps for all families needing shelter and we need to prepare other options,” he added.

According to the report, some 3.38 million people have been displaced since January 2014, with many uprooted several times.

Some 48,000 individuals have fled their homes in Mosul and the surrounding areas since March, with 87,000 fleeing from Fallujah and nearby areas since May and 78,000 from Shirqat, Qayyara and surrounding areas since June.