Publish date21 Aug 2017 - 9:51
Story Code : 280380

UN expresses concern for families in Tal Afar amid liberation op

The United Nations has expressed concerns over the safety of families in Tal Afar calling the warring sides in the major operation to liberate the city from ISIL terrorists to avoid civilian casualties.
UN expresses concern for families in Tal Afar amid liberation op
Families are trekking for 10 to 20 hours in extreme heat to reach mustering points. They are arriving exhausted and dehydrated," said the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, in a statement released on Sunday.

The statement was released after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the commencement of a major offensive to retake the city of Tal Afar, located near Mosul.

"We announce the launch of an operation to liberate Tal Afar. I say to Daesh either you surrender or die," Abadi said. 
 
Grande described the situation inside the city as being "very tough," due to the lack of food, water and basic necessities.
"More than 30,000 people have already fled the district. We don't know how many civilians are still in the areas where fighting is occurring, but we are preparing for thousands more to flee in coming days and weeks," she added.

 
She further went on to highlight the UN’s deep concerns over the "extreme risks that families are facing," urging all engaged in the conflict "to avoid civilian casualties and ensure people have the assistance they are entitled to under international humanitarian law."


Tal Afar and the surrounding area are among the last pockets of Daesh-controlled territory in Iraq, after the country's second-largest city of Mosul.

On July 10, Abadi formally declared victory over Daesh extremists in Mosul, which had served as the terrorists’ main urban stronghold in the conflict-ridden Arab country.

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https://taghribnews.com/vdcaawnuw49nae1.tgk4.html
Source : presstv
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