This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37701235

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Mosul battle: 900 civilians flee city ahead of fighting Mosul battle: Some 5,000 civilians fled ahead of fighting
(about 2 hours later)
Some 900 people have fled the Iraqi city of Mosul and crossed the border into Syria, the UN refugee agency says. Thousands of people have fled the Mosul area and more are expected as Iraqi troops move on the city to liberate it from the so-called Islamic State (IS).
This is the first large group of civilians confirmed to have escaped since the Iraqi government began its offensive to liberate Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS) on Monday. Some 5,000 people have crossed the border into Syria in the last 10 days, about 900 of them since the military began in areas around Mosul on Monday.
They have arrived at the al-Hol refugee camp where conditions, aid workers say, are already filthy and overcrowded.
Up to 1.5 million are thought to be in Mosul, with up to 5,000 IS fighters.Up to 1.5 million are thought to be in Mosul, with up to 5,000 IS fighters.
There are fears the militants will use the civilians as human shields as Iraqi forces get closer to Mosul. The UN is preparing for what it fears could be the biggest man-made humanitarian crisis in recent times.
A spokeswoman for the Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that more than 900 people from Mosul had crossed the border into Syria and were now at a refugee camp. Refugee camps are being built in the south, east and north of Mosul in preparation for a flood of people fleeing the city. The UN says it expects at least 200,000 in the coming days and weeks.
She said it was likely the agency would use the camp as a staging-post before moving them back across the border to a safe location in Iraq, the BBC's Richard Galpin reports. Mosul residents had been told by the Iraqi government that it might be safer to stay in the city while the operation is under way - with fears IS fighters have booby-trapped roads and placed snipers on routes in and out.
The movement of a significant number of people indicates that IS militants are not able to stop everyone leaving, our correspondent notes.
It will also raise questions about whether some fighters might try to use the same route to flee, he adds.
Mosul residents had been told by the Iraqi government that it may be safer to stay in the city while the operation is under way - with fears IS fighters have booby-trapped roads and placed snipers on routes in and out.
But there are also fears that IS militants could use residents as human shields by moving into their neighbourhoods, and concern that the group may even use chemical weapons.But there are also fears that IS militants could use residents as human shields by moving into their neighbourhoods, and concern that the group may even use chemical weapons.
Residents, reached by telephone by Reuters news agency, confirmed IS was preventing people from fleeing the city and had directed some of them towards buildings likely to be targeted by air strikes. Residents, reached by telephone by Reuters news agency, confirmed that IS was trying to prevent people from fleeing the city and had directed some of them towards buildings likely to be targeted by air strikes.
Read more on the Islamic State conflict
US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it was important to ensure that Mosul's residents could safely flee the city.US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday it was important to ensure that Mosul's residents could safely flee the city.
"If we aren't successful in helping ordinary people as they're fleeing Isil (IS), then that makes us vulnerable to seeing Isil return," he told reporters in Washington. "If we aren't successful in helping ordinary people as they're fleeing Isil [IS], then that makes us vulnerable to seeing Isil return," he told reporters in Washington.
The UN is working to create new refugee camps to the south, east and north of Mosul, and predict some 200,000 people will need shelter in the first days and weeks of the operation. Many of those in and around Mosul who have already escaped have headed west to camps across the border in Syria, including al-Hol camp.
But many of those who have already escaped have headed west to camps across the border in Syria, including Al Hol camp. Al-Hol was built to house 7,500 people but currently holds 9,000 refugees.
Al Hol was built to house 7,500 people but currently has 9,000 refugees. The charity Save the Children says 5,000 people from Mosul have arrived in the last 10 days.
Some 912 people have arrived from Mosul in the last 24 hours, and 3,000 people have been dropped off by smugglers and are expected to be brought to Al Hol once they have been cleared by security, the UN says. The UN says the camp received 912 people in the last 24 hours and is expecting a further 3,000 people who were dropped off by smugglers and are being cleared by security.
While Al Hol is being expanded to eventually take in 50,000 people, Save the Children says the camp currently has just 16 latrines, is littered with waste and faeces, and has no clean water. The camp is being expanded to eventually take in 50,000 people, but Save the Children says the camp currently has just 16 latrines, is littered with waste and faeces, and has no clean water.
"These families arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs and find almost nothing to help them," said the charity's Tarik Kadir. "The camp is bursting at the seams and risks being overwhelmed.""These families arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs and find almost nothing to help them," said the charity's Tarik Kadir. "The camp is bursting at the seams and risks being overwhelmed."
Iraqi troops are moving towards Mosul from the south, while their Kurdish allies have been approaching from the east.Iraqi troops are moving towards Mosul from the south, while their Kurdish allies have been approaching from the east.
They have taken back control of some 10 villages and are now between 30 and 40 km (19 and 25 miles) from the city. They have taken back control of some 10 villages and are now 30-40km (19-25 miles) from the city.
But progress is expected to be slow, and a Kurdish commander Sirwan Barzani told CNN that it could be two weeks before Iraqi troops enter Mosul and two months before the city is liberated.But progress is expected to be slow, and a Kurdish commander Sirwan Barzani told CNN that it could be two weeks before Iraqi troops enter Mosul and two months before the city is liberated.
IS fighters appear to be putting up stiff resistance in places, with the group releasing video purporting to show them firing on coalition armoured vehicles.IS fighters appear to be putting up stiff resistance in places, with the group releasing video purporting to show them firing on coalition armoured vehicles.
Mosul is the oil-rich capital of Nineveh province and Iraq's second-largest city.Mosul is the oil-rich capital of Nineveh province and Iraq's second-largest city.
It was overrun by IS in June 2014 and was the place from where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.It was overrun by IS in June 2014 and was the place from where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
Are you in the region around Mosul? Are you from Mosul? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you in the region around Mosul? Are you from Mosul? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
·WhatsApp: +44 7525 900971·WhatsApp: +44 7525 900971
·Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay·Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
·Send an SMS or MMS to +44 7624 800 100·Send an SMS or MMS to +44 7624 800 100
Or please use the form below:Or please use the form below: