IFIR Iraq Weekly Press Release: To secure a safe route for families and their children to escape the war in the western part of Mosul.

24th February 2017.

A new offensive to retake the western part of Mosul from ISIS has started. This follows a formal announcement of the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on 19 February.

This new offensive has put at risk the lives of at least 750,000 people, including 350,000 children under the age of 18. They are trapped in the older, narrower streets of the western part of the city because they have been told to shelter at home by the Iraqi government. Adults and children who have dared to escape the city face the threat of being killed by ISIS forces.

 To avoid worsening the situation and save civilians’ lives, it is crucial to provide and ensure safe routes and the means to escape the ongoing military offensive.

The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) is drawing attention to the Iraqi government’s responsibility to provide safe passage and show commitment to prioritising the protection of civilians in this part of the city, where hundreds of thousand could be fatally trapped by this conflict.

For further information please contact IFIR:

Iraq on: Tel: 00964 (0) 7800063048 Email: janan12@hotmail.co.uk Skype: janan.aljabiri.Website: http://www.federationifir.com Main Branch- London: Tel: 44(0) 7856032991/ +44(0)7720291516 Kurdistan details: Tel:00964(0)770724343.

Contact details of Baghdad Branch:

Tel: 00964 (0) 7800063048

Email: janan12@hotmail.co.uk

Skype: janan.aljabiri

Website: http://www.federationifir.com

Main Branch- London:

Tel: 44(0) 7856032991/ +44(0)7720291516

Kurdistan details:

Tel:00964(0)770724343