Attachments
KEY FIGURES
191,826 persons internally displaced from Mosul and surrounding areas since military operations to retake the city resumed on 17 October 20161
21,770 UNHCR kits of core relief items (CRIs) distributed to families in camps, assisting some 129,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Mosul and surrounding areas
7,167 family plots are currently occupied out of 14,781 family plots (for some 88,000 people) in UNHCR built camps that are ready to receive IDPs displaced from Mosul corridor.
3 million IDPs since January 20142
250,952 Iraqi refugees registered and hosted in countries in the region, in addition to 13,768 Iraqis received in Al Hol camp in Syria since 17 October 2016
1 IOM - DTM Emergency Tracking since 17 October 2016.
2 IOM - DTM as of 2 February 2017.
POPULATION MOVEMENTS
Displacement continues from neighbourhoods recently retaken by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in west Mosul. Nearly 30,000 persons have reportedly fled west Mosul since 25 February. Families recently displaced from west Mosul reported undergoing several rounds of security screening before being transferred by the authorities to the camps. They fled as soon as their neighbourhoods were retaken by ISF, and walked 3-4 kilometres before reaching government forces that transported them to the camps. About 13,700 IDPs were transferred to Haj Ali, Qayyarah Airstrip and Jad’ah 4 camps, south of Mosul, which have reportedly reached their full capacity by now. The new Hammam Al-Alil camp, built by the government some 25 km south of Mosul, was opened on 27 February and has received 15,600 IDPs at 1 March. About a hundred displaced families are reportedly sheltered in the host community around Hammam Al-Alil. With this recent increase a total 255,708 individuals have been displaced as a result of ongoing conflict in Mosul, of whom 191,826 remain in displacement.
SITUATION UPDATE
ISF continues to advance in west Mosul city, retaking Tayaran neighbourhood, immediately north of the airport. Clashes are ongoing in four adjacent neighbourhoods. On 1 March, just west of the city, the ISF reportedly took control of the last major road connecting Mosul to Syria, effectively encircling Mosul.
IDPs report dire conditions in west Mosul. Newly-displaced IDPs from west Mosul interviewed by UNHCR report that they did not have water or electricity for two weeks, and that food was in extremely short supply. Areas recently retaken by ISF remain insecure, with booby traps and IEDs along the streets, causing many people to remain in their homes. As clearance operations progress, it is expected that more west Mosul residents might flee.
UNHCR RESPONSE UPDATE
UNHCR is building two additional camps, east and south of Mosul, for about 39,000 IDPs. Over 150,000 IDPs are currently sheltered in the 19 camps built by UN agencies and the government around Mosul, and there is space available for up to 82,000 new arrivals in existing camps. UNHCR has built 14,781 plots for up to 88,000 persons displaced in the Mosul corridor, and is building two more camps, Hasansham U2 (east of Mosul) and Hammam Al-Alil 2 (south of Mosul). The two camps will be able to shelter a total of 6,560 families (about 39,000 persons). The majority of IDPs (81%) who fled Mosul and surrounding areas since the onset of the Mosul offensive on 17 October, are sheltered in camps. UNHCR is ready to build new camps, upon the government’s request and allocation of land.
UNHCR has started the construction of a transit and reception centre in Hammam Al-Alil. Two large tented halls have been erected on 28 February, as part of UNHCR’s commitment to provide shelter to about 2,000 IDPs as they are waiting to undergo security clearance. Another ten tented halls have been received at the camp and will be erected in the coming days.
The new camp of Hammam Al-Alil, built by the government, started to receive families displaced from west Mosul on 27 February. The camp, which can shelter up to 4,000 families (about 24,000 persons), is located 25 km south of Mosul and has received 8,000 IDPs from west Mosul over the past 48 hours. UNHCR has pre-positioned 4,000 blankets to be distributed to new arrivals. In addition, on 1 March, UNHCR released 1,500 kits of core relief items to be distributed to families in the camp. The kits include a full hygiene kit, a cooking stove, a heater, mattresses, blankets, plastic sheeting, and water and kerosene jerry canes. UNHCR has committed kits of core relief items for 5,000 families and is ready to provide additional assistance to the government upon request.