An estimated half a million people from Iraq’s second largest city Mosul have fled since militants from the Islamic State and the Levant took control earlier this week. <br /><br />There have been chaotic scenes at border crossings entering nearby Irbil Province in the autonomous region of Kurdistan.<br /><br />“The situation is hopeless in Mosul,” said Waad Ali. “They burned down a police station so I’m doing my best to save my family and protect my children.”<br /><br />Only those with families or invitations from Kurds are being allowed in.<br /><br />For those who aren’t permitted entry to the region the United Nations Refugee Agency in cooperation with the Kurdish government have provided a temporary alternative for the fleeing Iraqis.<br /><br />‘56 SOT Catherine Robinson, UNHCR<br /><br />“Those who don’t have people waiting on the other side for them and don’t have any money – the government has set up this transit camp for them so that they have a place to stay,” explained Catherine Robinson, Public Information Officer with the UNHCR-<br /><br />The International Organisation for Migration have said the Iraqi government and NGOs have been providing basic non-food relief items but are now appealing for further aid to help with the crisis situation in the country.
