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Iraq

Iraq mVAM Bulletin #25: February 2017 - Lack of incomes cited as causing food insecurity in newly liberated areas of Mosul

Attachments

Key Points:

  • In Mosul, levels of poor and borderline food consumption are higher in areas that were liberated in January than in those liberated previously. As has been the trend, newly liberated areas record a price hike which subsides once the traders establish their orders and deliveries start arriving.

  • Over 28 percent of IDP households are using food-related negative coping strategies, but residents are resorting more frequently to negative coping than IDPs.

  • Initial reports by key informants inside Mosul city reported shortages of infant milk and drinking water.

Situation Update

Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have taken complete control of eastern Mosul. However, the Prime Minister announced on 18 January that some operations are still ongoing in northern Mosul (eastern bank). With the original bridges destroyed, coalition forces have provided five floating bridges to cross the Tigris to reach the western part of the city. The Mosul offensive displaced 42,000 more people in January, bringing the total number of those displaced to 163,176 (as at 31 January) since the offensive began on 17 October (IOM DTM). WFP has provided Immediate Response Rations and Family Food Rations to assist 180,000 people inside Mosul since October 2016.

However, as the conflict turns west, 19 humanitarian agencies have released a letter warning of serious threats to the estimated 750,000 residents (non-displaced) in the ISIS stronghold, who are facing siege-like conditions. The letter underlines the potential for a mass IDP exodus as the conflict closes in.