Between 150 to 180 thousand civilians are guessed to be stranded in the neighborhoods of Zencelî, Bab al-Sinjar, Old Mosul, Sehê, Shifa and Bab al-Kor that remain under ISIS occupation in west Mosul.

UNICEF said they are receiving alarming reports of civilians including several children being killed in west Mosul. Some were reportedly killed as they desperately tried to flee the fighting which is intensifying by the hour.

“Children’s lives are on the line. Children are being killed, injured and used as human shields. Children are experiencing and witnessing terrible violence that no human being should ever witness. In some cases, they have been forced to participate in the fighting and violence”, said UNICEF Iraq.

UNICEF reported that an estimated 100,000 girls and boys remain in extremely dangerous conditions in the old city and other areas of west Mosul. Many are caught in the crossfire and hospitals and other medical facilities have reportedly come under attack.

As the fighting continues, UNICEF called on all parties in west Mosul to protect children and keep them out of harm’s way at all times, in line with their obligations under humanitarian law, saying;

“Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure including hospitals, clinics, schools, homes and water systems should stop immediately.”