A family finally flees from the city of Mosul after one month of siege. Mosul, Iraq, 20 Nov 2016.
On the run from ISIS.
Valerio Muscella
On October 17 the military operation went underway to free Mosul, the Iraqi city in Kurdinstan’s autonomous region, the de facto capital of the Islamic State since June 2014. In little over a month the anti-Isis coalition led by the Iraqi security forces and supported by Kurdish peshmerga, irianian shiah militia, and Turkey-backed sunni militia, has managed to liberate much of the city from the self-proclaimed Caliphate militiamen, freeing tens of thousands of civilians who had been living under siege.
Many of them, however, are still living in fear and cannot leave the city as they are being held hostage by the Islamic State as part of a defense strategy that prevents civilians from leaving their houses, setting up road blocks controlled by snipers and blowing up the houses of those who have fled as deterrent.
As the coalition advances, growing numbers of civilians manage to flee and those who succeed in escaping ISIS controlled areas are escorted by the Iraqi coalition forces towards safe zones in the city. Here refugees are transferred by trucks and buses to the temporary camps which have been set up by the UNHCR at a short distance from the city.
There are currently over 100 thousand people who are thought to have fled Mosul, and are now considered Internally Displaced People, refugees in their own country.
Khazer, one of such camps, currently hosts roughly 15,000 people. It is located south-east of Mosul and is managed by the Barzani foundation, affiliated with the Kurdish Peshmerga. Before accessing the camp, every individual must go through a thorough security and identification process after which they are assigned a tent. Most of the people now living in the camp anxiously await to see the arrival of those relatives still under siege and trapped in the ISIS controlled areas, while others hope to return soon to their homes.
Although the camps had been set up swiftly in preparation for the offensive, the UN has expressed deep concern for the growing number of people fleeing Mosul and the neighbouring villages, and estimates the number of potential displaced people at around one million who will be in need of shelter for the upcoming months.
The photos were taken on November 20 between Mosul and the Khazir refugee camp in the Kurdistan autonomous region of Iraq.
Women and children are seen escorted on a truck by Iraqi troups towards a safe area in Mosul. 20 nov 2016
Women and children wave to their fathers, sons and brothers after they were separated early in the morning before being escorted by Iraqi troups towards a safe area in Mosul. Iraq, 20 Nov 2016.
Women fleeing from Mosul. Iraq, 20 Nov 2016.
Women and children are seen in the truck bringing them from a liberated area of south-eastern Mosul to Khazir refugee camp for internal displaced people. 20 nov 2016
A view from a roof of a destroyed house in the southern outskirt of Mosul. Iraq, 20 Nov 2016.
A family waits for the bus which will bring them to Khazir refugee camp for internal displaced people after having fled from Mosul in the same morning. 20 nov 2016
People fleed from Isis-controlled areas in Mosul rest on a bus while going to the refugee camp in the southern countryside of Mosul. Iraq, Nov 20.
Peshmerga soldiers control some children before they can enter to the refugee camp of Khazer, administrated by the Barzani Foundation. Country side of Mosul, Iraq, 20 Nov 2016.
A man speaks to his brother through the fence of the refugee camp of Khazer in the southern country side of Mosul. 20 Nov 2016.
Internal displaced people from Mosul are seen escorted by a soldier of the Iraqis troups to a safe area in the south-eastern Mosul. 20 nov 2016
Ayda, 5 years old, stands next to the tent where she lives with her family in Khazir refugee camp.
A scene from Khazer refugee camp in the country side of Mosul. 20 Nov 2016.
Group of people waits in line to receive newly arrived supplies and food provisions ditributed by the volunteers of the Barzani Foundation in Khazir refugee camp for internal discplaced people.
The refugee camp of Khazer, 20 nov 2016.
Volunteers distribute food and water supplies to the refugees in Khazir camp.
Group of people waits to receive water supplies from volunteers in Khazir camp.
Ahmjad, 14 years old, lives in Khazir refugee camp with his family since 3 weeks. His dream is to go back to his house as soon as possible.