Displaced from Western Mosul Exceed 526,000 — Iraqi Min.

Families flee clashes between Iraqi forces and IS group militants in western Mosul.

 
Baghdad,24 Sha’ban 1438/20 May 2017 (MINA) — Civilians forced to flee western Mosul since the launch of a military offensive to liberate the city from the grip of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in February have hit more than 526,000, KUNA reported, citing the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration on Friday.

The displaced reached 526.233 people, most of whom have sought refuge in government-run camps in the city’s southern, western and eastern quarters, areas held by the army, minister Jassem Mohamed Al-Jaf, added in a statement.

As for those who have managed to return to the recently-recaptured eastern Mosul, they now stand at 176,000, the minister added.

According to Al-Jaf, the ministry has opened centers for registering the returnees “to secure their rights.” (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)