LOC16:16
13:16 GMT
GENEVA, Aug 23 (KUNA) -- The UN high commission for refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday said that displacement in Iraq may be about to dramatically worsen with the focus of military action turning towards Mosul.
"Already, in recent months, some 213,000 people have fled their homes in different parts of the country. This includes 48,000 people from the Mosul area, 87,000 from the Falluja region, and 78,000 from Shirqat, Qayyara and surrounds", said Adrian Edwards, UNHCR Spokesperson in a briefing.
Mosul is Iraq's second largest city, and the humanitarian impact of a military offensive there is expected to be enormous. Up to 1.2 million people could be affected. UNHCR is doing what it can amid enormous challenges to build more camps to accommodate people and mitigate suffering, but additional land for camps and funding is still needed.
Iraq is already one of the world's biggest internal displacement situations. Some 3.38 million people have fled their homes since January 2014, among them families who have been displaced multiple times.
UNHCR continues to advocate, in a volatile, fast-evolving and complex conflict, for freedom of movement of civilian populations. This is especially critical when it comes to people fleeing combat zones. Everything possible should be done to ensure the safety and dignity of people affected.
UNHCR is also assessing and identifying other sites across northern Iraq in close consultation with authorities.
Altogether, UNHCR is looking to set up camps in up to six locations across northern Iraq although progress depends on both the availability of land and of funding. UNHCR's overall appeal for USD 584 million. for displaced people including Iraqi refugees in the region was only 38 percent funded as of August 2nd.
Finding available land for the new camps has become a critical issue. Land is identified and provided by the local authorities and assessed by UNHCR, other UN agencies and humanitarian partners for suitability. However, this issue is fraught with problems. (end)
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