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Iraq Situation: UNHCR Flash Update - 14 May 2017

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Iraq
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UNHCR
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POPULATION MOVEMENTS

Over 40,000 persons flee west Mosul in four days. Following recent Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) advances in northwest Mosul and in the Old City, between 5,000 and 17,000 persons have reportedly fled west Mosul daily between 11 and 14 May. IDPs are transferred by the Government to Hammam Al-Alil screening site, south of Mosul, where they undergo security clearance. Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) are from neighbourhoods recently retaken or partially retaken by ISF in northwest Mosul, and from the Old City. New arrivals interviewed by UNHCR’s protection partner report a severe lack of drinking water, food, and health services in their places of origin.

The reopening of Nimrud (Munira) bridge facilitates movement from Hammam Al-Alil screening site to urban areas and camps east of Mosul. Over 2,000 people reportedly crossed the bridge using private vehicles within the first three hours of its opening on 12 May. The Government also resumed transportation from Hammam AlAlil to Gogachly, on the eastern outskirts of Mosul city, and to Khazer and Hasansham camps, east of Mosul. About 4,000 IDPs were transported to Gogachly, and 1,300 to Khazer and Hasansham camps between 13 and 14 May. Although most newly displaced families move onwards to urban areas in and around east Mosul after going through security clearance in Hammam Al-Alil, an increasing number of IDPs reportedly relocate to retaken areas in west Mosul.

IDP movements to camps northeast of Mosul remain limited. During the past week, 22 families (94 persons) arrived to Nargizlia 1 and 2 camps. Several reports have been received of IDPs from west Mosul coming from Hammam Al-Alil or from east Mosul being stopped at checkpoints and turned back.

SITUATION UPDATE

Iraqi Security Forces continue to make progress in retaking a number of neighbourhoods northwest of the Old City. This morning (4 May), ISF reportedly entered four neighbourhoods still under extremist groups’ control in west Mosul city, while on 12 May, government-affiliated militia forces launched an offensive to retake areas further west of Mosul, close to the Syrian border. Eleven neighbourhoods reportedly remain under control or partial control of extremist groups in Mosul city.

RESPONSE UPDATE

Camps built by the Government or humanitarian partners around Mosul are ready to immediately shelter up to 41,000 IDPs. About 326,000 IDPs are currently sheltered in camps around Mosul, according to the CCCM cluster. Since October 2016,
UNHCR has built ten camps around Mosul and in Kirkuk for up to 120,000 IDPs from Mosul and the Mosul corridor. In addition, Al Salamiyah 2 camp, about five kilometres east of Hammam Al-Alil, is under construction and will be able to shelter another 30,000 IDPs by the end of May, and a total of 60,000 IDPs when completed. Tents and essential household items are prepositioned on-site to immediately assist 12,000 IDPs.

Humanitarian partners provide emergency assistance to returnees en route from Ramadi to their places of origin in Ninewa. A first group of 500 IDPs has been cleared to return from Kilo 18 Camp in Ramadi district (Anbar Governorate) to their areas of origin in Ninewa Governorate, mostly near Hammam Al-Alil and east Mosul.
Humanitarian partners closely monitored the movement which took place between 11 and 13 May, and intervened when necessary to provide assistance and advocate for safe passage with relevant authorities along the way. Families underwent a security check in Hammam Al-Alil before being able to move onwards to east Mosul or to camps and urban areas in Hammam Al-Alil.

UNHCR needs USD 212 million in 2017 to continue providing urgent protection, shelter and camp coordination and camp management assistance to IDPs.