United nation warns mounting civilian casualties from fighting in eastern Mosul between Iraqi forces and Islamic State are overwhelming the capacity of the government and international aid groups. The United Nations said yesterday nearly 200 wounded civilians and military personnel were transferred to hospital last week, the highest level since the campaign to push the jihadists out of their last major stronghold in Iraq began on October 17th.
The proportion of civilians among the wounded also appears to be on the rise, reaching 20 per cent in the first month of the offensive. According to a Department of Health official, though part of the increase is likely due to improved access to areas newly retaken from Islamic State. Authorities are doing everything they can to help but there is not sufficient trauma capacity at the field level to deal with the numbers of people being wounded by sharp-shooters and snipers and in crossfire.
A 100,000-strong alliance of Iraqi forces, with air and ground support from a US-led coalition, have nearly surrounded Mosul but so far only breached the jihadists’ defences from the eastern side, establishing a small foothold inside the city.