Ms. Grande said she is also profoundly worried about the situation in Ninewa Governorate, where more than 520 people, including an estimated 250 children, have been stranded for three months between military frontlines east of Sinjar Mountain.
“It's the middle of winter and these people are unable to access food, water, shelter and medical assistance. Ensuring that civilians are safe is one of our highest priorities,” Ms. Grande emphasized.
Allowing families to cross into Government-controlled areas would “dramatically” improve the situation, Ms. Grande said, calling on all parties to do whatever is necessary to ensure that civilians are protected.
More than 3 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Iraq since January 2014. The UN estimates that an additional 3 million people are living under ISIL control in Iraq. More than 500,000 civilians have returned to their homes following military campaigns to bring areas under Government control.
(Source: United Nations News Centre)
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