March 16, 2017 —  The surge in the number of civilians fleeing west Mosul will leave tens of thousands stranded in poor conditions at unsuitable locations or result in too many people risking their lives by moving to a still-dangerous east Mosul, warns the International Rescue Committee. 

Over 100,000 people have fled the battle to retake west Mosul from ISIS, with this week at times seeing more than 10,000 leave the city each day. It is likely the numbers fleeing could rise even further once Iraqi forces begin to retake the densely populated old city area. 

All camps and sites to the south and east of the city are full, with camps to the north east only able to accommodate another 22,000. A new 30,000 person camp to the south of the city is likely to become full within days of opening, and whilst preparations are being made for an additional camp to accommodate 60,000 people, it is not yet clear when this will be ready.

With little space available at camps, the coming weeks will likely see new arrivals from west Mosul end up in locations lacking sufficient toilets, lighting and oversight, with tens of thousands at risk of being left exposed to the elements and without enough food and water. More support is desperately needed for the humanitarian community to help meet the needs of these new arrivals.

Wendy Taeuber, International Rescue Committee’s Country Director for Iraq, said: “For the past five months the humanitarian community has struggled to keep ahead of this crisis but the final push to retake Mosul is resulting in a humanitarian crunch-point. It’s now a race against time to ensure that all available resources are made available to reach those likely to be stranded without adequate food, water and shelter.”

Around 10,000 people have already fled from the west to the east of the city, living with relatives or staying in empty houses or unfinished buildings, according to its Mayor. East Mosul is far from safe, and many residents are without clean drinking water and regular electricity. The IRC has spoken with people who have returned to displacement camps after finding east Mosul too dangerous because of ISIS snipers, drone attacks, suicide car bombs and the risk from mines and booby-traps. 

Each week around 3,000 people return home but there is a risk that larger numbers of people from east Mosul and villages on the outskirts of the city may be encouraged to leave the camps to make space for new arrivals.

The IRC has distributed blankets, soap, spare clothing and mattresses to more than 25,000 people in displacement camps outside Mosul and will seek to support new arrivals from west Mosul with cash and essential items. In Nargizlia camp, the IRC is setting up a safe space for children to learn and recover from the trauma of living under ISIS for two years. Specialist teams are also working in camps to support vulnerable women and in local communities outside the city to identify and help separated children.

To find out more on the situation inside Mosul and the IRC’s response, visit here.