Iraq: Mosul Humanitarian Response Situation Report No. 38 (12 to 28 June 2017) [EN/AR/KU]

Highlights

• As the battle for Mosul reaches its final stages, there are reports of further civilian deaths and injuries, with at least 12 casualties over the Eid weekend and hundreds reportedly injured.

• The cumulative number of displaced on 28 June stands at 897,663 (since operations began on 17 October).

• The numbers fleeing Mosul’s old city had reduced substantially in more recent weeks, but spiked on Friday 23 June when 5,500 people escaped the city as heavy fighting continued. The numbers fell to 2,500 by Saturday 24 June. More than half of the displaced continue to stay with family, friends and relations in host communities placing an additional strain on these communities.

• A second Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) took place across 43 districts in Mosul; this assessment enhances the first and will help humanitarian partners in the targeting and prioritization of assistance.

• Two outbreaks of food poisoning were reported in Hasansham U2 and Hammam al Alil camps where some 945 people fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. No deaths were reported in either incident.

Situation Overview

After months of fighting, most of Mosul is back under the control of the Government of Iraq. The final stages of the battle are being fought in the old city and reports suggest that Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) numbers are dramatically reduced as the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) gain ground. Reports from inside the old city indicate that there is severe damage to infrastructure due to the hostilities. There are still serious concerns for the safety of civilians caught inside. Several explosions led to deaths over the weekend, with as many as 12 casualties and hundreds of injured occurring at the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The flow of displacement decreased in recent weeks as military operations to retake the city move into their end phase. The numbers of displaced living in host communities increased to 362,699 people currently staying with family, friends and other government sponsored hosting arrangements. The remainder of 320,138 people, are living in 19 camps and emergency sites with space available to accommodate a further 37,412 people in 7,902 plots. An estimated 682,837 people are currently displaced by military operations to retake Mosul; 659,000 from the western side of the city while 23,837 remain displaced from the eastern part of Mosul. Reports also indicate that 214,826 returned to the city. More than 53 per cent of the displaced are staying with family and friends in host communities, placing an additional strain on already vulnerable communities.

Following displacement routes in Mosul city, nine assembly areas, mustering points and screening sites remain in place. Humanitarian partners continue to respond to the outflow of people providing emergency assistance – including shading, ready-to-eat meals, water, sanitation facilities, as well as medical and protection services.

The preliminary findings of the second inter-organizational, multi-sector RNA from 43 neighbourhoods of new accessible areas of Mosul, were presented at a working group meeting on 22 June 2017. The assessment was conducted by humanitarian partners and the findings offer an understanding of needs and vulnerabilities of 28 neighbourhoods in west Mosul and 15 in the eastern side of the city. These findings complement the findings of the first RNA by focusing on neighbourhoods not already assessed. Results from these assessments will contribute to partners’ programme planning, and the need for in-depth follow up assessments was flagged in several sectors where needs are particularly severe. The main reasons given by civilians in both sides of the city for returning was an improved sense of security in their area of origin followed in equal proportion by people reporting the high cost of living in the area of displacement; and the improved physical access to land and property in their area of origin as reasons for moving back. From the neighbourhoods assessed in west Mosul, the key priority needs are food and water while in east Mosul people prioritized employment followed by food and legal assistance. Full findings of the report will be published around 5 – 6 July and will be available on Relief Web.

During Ramadan, people living in Hasansham U2 and Hammam al Alil camps fell ill with food poisoning. This was as a result of food cooked outside the camps during the day and brought in for Iftar (evening meal). Meals were then left in soaring temperatures for hours until sunset when fasting adults could eat and rehydrate. Some 945 people were treated for vomiting and diarrhoea. The first vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak occurred on 13 June and the second on 24 June – while several people were hospitalised, no deaths occurred. The situation in both camps was quickly contained as health partners responded with treatment and samples sent to the laboratory for examination.

The daily provision of water into Mosul city remains steady at some 6.5 million litres – with some 3.4 million litres delivering by truck to western Mosul city, and some 3.1 million litres to eastern Mosul city. Neighbourhoods such as Baladiyat and Al Sukar in eastern Mosul now receive water through the city network. As a result, water trucking is now scaled down, however the re-establishment of a functioning city-wide water network remains a key concern.

The rate of trauma injuries continues to be of serious concern. Since October last year, and as of 27 June, 15,020 people from Mosul city were referred into the established trauma pathway. Since February, and from western Mosul alone, 8,706 people were referred to the trauma pathway. Since the start of the western Mosul operation in February, and as of 27June, 4,068 people were treated at Trauma Stabilisation Points near the frontline areas of western Mosul city.