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UNITED NATIONS, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Humanitarian partners in Iraq have appealed for 284 million U.S. dollars to start preparing for an operation in Mosul in the northern part of the country, which could affect as many as 1.5 million civilians, Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, told reporters here Wednesday.
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said that the impact of the Mosul military campaign on civilians will be devastating, Haq said at a daily news briefing here. "Mass casualties among civilians are likely and families trying to flee are expected to be at extreme risk."
Although front-line partners are racing to provide support, virtually every camp and reception center receiving newly displaced families is already at full capacity, he said.
Families who are displaced require a broad range of assistance, he said. "The most immediate needs are for water, food, emergency shelter, and medical assistance."
At the beginning of 2016, the United Nations appealed for 861 million U.S. dollars to help 7.3 million Iraqis who were already in trouble but has only received 40 percent of the appeal, he added.
