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Aid Group: Over 1 Million in Mosul Face 'Grave Danger'

by VOA News

   On Wednesday, as poor weather bogged down forces advancing on the
   Islamic State-held city of Mosul, an aid agency warned that civilians
   there are in great danger as the battle for the city intensifies.

   "We are now bracing ourselves for the worst," said the Norwegian
   Refugee Council's Wolfgang Gressmann. "The lives of 1.2 million
   civilians are in grave danger, and the future of all of Iraq is now in
   the balance."

   The group said thousands of civilians have already fled the city, and
   many have already been killed by snipers and explosives. Those still in
   the city are in need of food, water and medical supplies, and those
   shortages will intensify as the fighting makes it more difficult for
   supplies and other humanitarian aid to get through.

   Iraqi special forces reached the outskirts of the city Tuesday, two
   weeks after the offensive to retake Iraq's second largest city began,
   and more than two years after Mosul was captured by the Islamic State
   group.

   An Iraqi general said troops captured a television station Tuesday
   before a sandstorm blew in and ended combat operations for the day.

   On Wednesday, troops were holding their positions on the city's eastern
   border as high humidity and clouds limited visibility for drones and
   other aircraft.

   Iraqi Brig. General Haider Fadhil says no advances are planned for
   Wednesday due to the weather, the Associated Press reported.