ReliefWeb

POPULATION DISPLACEMENT

▪ First displaced families north of Mosul since the beginning of the offensive: On 21 October, 151 people, mostly women and children, escaped from Derik and Chanchi villages which are still under opposition groups control. They were transported by Kurdish forces to Nargizlia screening centre, in Shikhan district, where they underwent security screening. They were then escorted to UNHCR’s newly-built Zelikan camp the same day, where they were assigned a tent and received essential items such as mattresses, hygiene kits, blankets, kitchen sets.

▪ Return movements to recaptured villages: Some 550 displaced families have reportedly returned to the recently retaken town of Al Houd and other villages near Al Qayyarah. However, the security situation in recently retaken areas remains unstable.

UNHCR RESPONSE UPDATE

▪ Zelikan and Amalla, the two new UNHCR-built camps north of Mosul, are ready to shelter up to 24,000 persons: They are among the 11 camps for up to 120,000 persons UNHCR is preparing across four Governorates, in anticipation of large-scale displacement from Mosul.

▪ UNHCR is arranging an urgent airlift this week of 7,000 tents to Iraq for the Mosul response: This will bring the UNHCR stockpile to around 30,000 tents by 28 October. UNHCR plans to have in place 50,000 tents and 50,000 emergency shelter kits as part of its overall response.

▪ Preparations continue in Al Hol camp, in Hassakeh Governorate, Syria: 1,300 new plots are ready with 1,000 tents already pitched for new arrivals. Water trucking is ongoing with sufficient storage capacity, and food and essential items are prepositioned on site. Six Rubb halls are assembled for reception center and storage. Since 17 October, 912 Iraqis arrived to Al Hol, with another 200 reportedly still at the border.

SITUATION UPDATE

▪ Military operation continues steadily: Military forces have been retaking villages about 10-20 km from Mosul, reaching Tilkaif town north of Mosul, and Qaraqosh, east of Mosul, where clashes are reported to be on-going.

▪ Mishraq sulphur plant set ablaze by opposition groups, north of Al Qayyarah: Al Qayyarah hospital has reportedly checked at least 500 people complaining of breathing problems over the past two days. Toxic fumes with winds reportedly taking the plume over Al Qayyarah West airfield, are of particular concern for humanitarian partners as at least three sites receiving newly displaced families are located in Al Qayyarah, where 19 oil well fires continue to burn.