‘Catastrophic’ water shortages for 500,000 in Mosul

AFP, MOSUL, Iraq: Up to 500,000 civilians in Mosul are facing a “catastrophic” drinking water shortage, the UN warned, as Iraqi forces advance against the Islamic State group in the city.
Already suffering from a severe lack of food and electricity, civilians in Iraq’s second city are now also running out of drinkable water, said Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq. “Nearly half a million civilians, already struggling to feed themselves day to day, are now without access to clean drinking water. The impact on children, women and families will be catastrophic,” Grande said Wednesday. 
Tens of thousands of Iraqi troops and allied forces launched an offensive last month to retake Mosul, which was seized by IS more than two years ago. Weeks of fighting have seen the Iraqi forces surround the city and break into its eastern neighbourhoods, where there have been heavy street-to-street battles with the jihadists.
Inside the city on Wednesday, AFP journalists heard loud exlosions and heavy fighting as Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service special forces tried to mop up IS pockets, and set their sights on the area of Al-Ikhae.

Catastrophic water shortages for 500,000 in Mosul

AFP, MOSUL, Iraq: Up to 500,000 civilians in Mosul are facing a catastrophic drinking water shortage, the UN warned, as Iraqi forces advance against the Islamic State group in the city. Already suffering from a severe lack of food and electricity, civilians in Iraqs second city are now also running out of drinkable water, said Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq. Nearly half a million civilians, already struggling to feed themselves day to day, are now without access to clean drinking water. The impact on children, women and families will be catastrophic, Grande said Wednesday. Tens of thousands of Iraqi troops and allied forces launched an offensive last month to retake Mosul, which was seized by IS more than two years ago. Weeks of fighting have seen the Iraqi forces surround the city and break into its eastern neighbourhoods, where there have been heavy street-to-street battles with the jihadists. Inside the city on Wednesday, AFP journalists heard loud exlosions and heavy fighting as Iraqs Counter-Terrorism Service special forces tried to mop up IS pockets, and set their sights on the area of Al-Ikhae.