Mosul offensive displaced 7,000 people: UN

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that more than 7,000 Iraqi people are internally displaced as a result of the Mosul military operation in Iraq, a UN spokesman said.

"The situation is fluid and the numbers and patterns of displacement are fluctuating as the front lines move," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here on Monday.

He said that some families move out of harm's way only for a short time and quickly return home once conditions allow, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Regardless of displacement pattern, all families are reported to be in a vulnerable condition and need assistance," he said.

"Partners have provided assistance in Al Houd within 24 hours of its being retaken from the Islmaic State (IS) on October 18 and in recent days have provided assistance packages in the newly retaken areas of Ibrahim Al Khalil and Al Adla, south and southeast of Mosul," he added.

Iraqi security forces recaptured more villages from the IS militants, as part of a major offensive aimed at liberating the city of Mosul, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq, a security source said.

--IANS

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