Iraqi troops have pushed to within several hundred metres of the Tigris river that runs through central Mosul.<br /><br /> The US-backed forces launched a major offensive in October to re-take Iraq’s second city from ISIL militants. Their advance was slowed by fierce resistance from the extremists.<br /><br /> With military operations underway, thousands of civilians fled the area on buses to an army checkpoint 21 kilometres east of the city.<br /><br /> One man who recently fled the Wahda neighbourhood said the conditions had been unbearable.<br /><br /> “People were starving, there was destruction; people suffered a lot. There are families in Mosul who had barely a scrap to eat. People have nothing left, it is a tragic situation; all the people here experienced it.”<br /><br /> Another woman at the camp confirmed, “We suffered a lot, it was difficult to find food; our financial situation was dire. There was no security.”<br /><br /> Over 3 million people are displaced in #Iraq. As fighting continues, more risk being displaced every day. pic.twitter.com/OhSd5r2S81— ICRC (@ICRC) January 7, 2017<br /><br /> Aid workers handed out hot meals to the recent arrivals, one helper said they were serving up to 3,000 people per day. It provides a glimpse of the suffering of Iraqis caught up in the conflict.<br />
