Thousands More Iraqis Flee ISIS-Held Stronghold of Fallujah
Four thousand more people have fled the ISIS-held city of Fallujah, Iraq, according to Norwegian Refugee Council, an aid group that works with refugees and internally displaced Iraqis, according to the Associated Press.
Around 50,000 civilians remain trapped inside Fallujah, located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad. Militants are using roadside bombs to slow down the Iraqi forces' operation to recapture the city.
Fallujah has been under IS control for over two years and it is the last major city in western Iraq that is still held by the extremist group. The militants have threatened to kill anyone that attempts to leave. Last week they reportedly shot at a group of people attempting to flee across the Euphrates River.
The Norwegian Refugee Council, which works with refugees and internally displaced Iraqis, said those who fled since Saturday bring the total number of residents to 27,580. This number has escalated in Fallujah since the Iraqi offensive began in late May
Thousands more are expected to try and flee within the upcoming hours the NRC said, saying that some refugees reported IS militants were demanding 150,000 Iraqi Dinars, or around $130, from each person to let them leave.
According to the aid group, humanitarian resources are running low and $10 million was called for a six months' supply of water, food and basic necessities.
"Thousands of others remain trapped inside and the most vulnerable will need urgent assistance," said NRC Country Director in Iraq Nasr Muflahi.
The Iraqi command announced Sunday that key areas to the west of Fallujah have been taken and that Iraqi forces pushed deeper into the city from its' southern edges.
U.S.-trained Iraqi counterterrorism forces, wary of coming street battles in the city, are also already facing fierce resistance on the outskirts from well-entrenched militants.
http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2016-06-13-ML--Iraq/id-ef7124568fcc4ab485e8bba23b1ad934
