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UN humanitarian agencies responds to IDPs in Mosul

NEW YORK, April 26 (KUNA) -- UN official said while fighting in Mosul continues, the humanitarian agencies continued to respond to civilian displacement in Iraq.
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that while fighting continues in Mosul, civilian displacement from other remaining so-called Islamic State (IS)-held areas has also continued.
In the last four days, Dujarric confirmed, more than 5,500 people have fled from Tel Afar, west of Mosul, to Sahlej, in the Zummar area north west of Tel Afar. "Sahlej does not have basic services to host this number of people, with particular shortages of water, shelter and latrines," he added.
As fighting in the Mosul area continues and Tel Afar becomes increasingly unsafe, people have fled temporarily to Zummar, en route to better-serviced locations, the UN official noted.
The Iraqi Government has already bussed approximately 1,300 people from Zummar to areas south and east of Mosul, and to newly accessible neighborhoods of Mosul city. Further, Dujarric reported that transportation to other Government of Iraq areas is expected to follow.
Humanitarians continue to respond to displaced families on the move, families in displacement camps and sites, those who remained in newly retaken areas, and others made highly vulnerable by this crisis. Dujarric told reporters emergency aid has to date been provided to cover the needs of some 2.1 million people in Mosul and surrounding areas, with many families requiring assistance more than once. (end) mao.gta