5,000 flee Mosul in 10 days

Internally displaced civilians are seen after they escaped from Daesh controlled areas of Mosul on October 18 2016 [Anadolu]

Internally displaced civilians are seen after escaping from Daesh controlled areas of Mosul on October 18 2016 [Anadolu]

Image of internally displaced Iraqi civilians after having fled from Daesh controlled areas [Anadolu]

Some 5,000 Iraqis fled Mosul into Syria in the last 10 days ahead of the start of the current offensive to rid the city of Daesh fighters.

Of those who fled, 900 left at the start since Monday. They headed to the Al-Hol refugee camp where, aid workers say, conditions are already filthy and overcrowded.

There are thought to be some 1.3 million civilians in Mosul and between 5,000 and 8,000 Daesh fighters.

Refugee camps are being set up to the south, east and west of the city to cater for what the UN fears could be the largest humanitarian crisis of modern times.

There have been reports that, in preparation for the offensive, Daesh has booby-trapped roads and set up snipers. This has led the Iraqi government to encourage Mosul’s citizens to stay where they are during the operation.

There have also been reports that Daesh is using civilians as human shields and others that the group is stopping people from fleeing the city.