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Abigail Drane/ Tearfund
World News

Mosul military campaign over, but thousands still in need

by Tola Mbakwe

According to Christian charity, Tearfund, it is estimated that since the beginning of the Mosul offensive, 920,000 civilians have fled their homes and close to 700,000 people are still displaced, with nearly half living in nineteen emergency camps.

The UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande said: "Many of the people who have fled have lost everything. They need shelter, food, healthcare, water, sanitation and emergency kits.

"The levels of trauma we are seeing are some of the highest anywhere. What people have experienced is nearly unimaginable."

Abigail Drane/ Tearfund
An IDP camp in Northern Iraq

Tearfund said a man named Ali and his family escaped from Mosul during the military campaign to retake the city which began on 17 October 2016.

Ali said: "One night we had a call from my relatives. My house and all my belongings have been destroyed, we have nothing in Mosul now, and we have nothing here."

He left behind his job as a salesman, and fled with few possessions. With his family they've set up home in an unfinished building in Northern Iraq - not by choice, but by necessity.

Many people like Ali fled Mosul with relatively little and often lack the basic necessities of life and employment opportunities for displaced people are extremely limited.

Tearfund is working in the region to offer immediate humanitarian assistance, including providing safe water and sanitation access, psychosocial support and cash grants to people like Ali.

A cash distribution in Northern Iraq.

It stated: "With the Mosul operation drawing to a close there are many thousands of people who have urgent needs and are only now able to receive assistance. There are many more thousands who are still out of reach from aid organisations, who we are preparing to assist once they become accessible."

The organisation has asked prayers to be focused on families like Ali's who have fled their homes and lost nearly everything, healing for those who have experienced highly traumatic events and recovery of communities, infrastructure and the economy in Mosul and across Iraq.

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