UN warns of 'humanitarian tragedy' as militants seize town in northern Iraq

In a press release, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) confirmed reports that ISIL and associated armed groups seized control of nearly all of Sinjar and Tal Afar districts in Ninewa Province, including the oil fields of Ain Zala and Batma, bordering the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

“A humanitarian tragedy is unfolding in Sinjar,” declared UNAMI chief and Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nickolay Mladenov, who added that the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government should urgently restore their security cooperation in dealing with the crisis.

According to reports, as many as 200,000 civilians, most of them from the Yezidi community, have fled to Jabal Sinjar.

UNAMI warns that the humanitarian situation of these civilians is reported as dire, and they are in urgent need of basic items including food, water and medicine. An unknown number of civilians are also reported to have moved towards Dahuk and Zako in the Kurdistan region.

The United Nations has grave concerns for the physical safety of these civilians – particularly those now trapped in Jabal Sinjar area, as it is now surrounded by ISIL militants.

Mladenov called on all Iraqi authorities, civil society and international partners to work with the UN to ensure the delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance.

“I also call on the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that those civilians fleeing the violence are facilitated entry to the Kurdistan Region in order to receive protection and humanitarian assistance,” he added.

Upon his request, this morning, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Gyorgy Busztin, met Iraqi President Fuad Ma'soum who shared grave concern over the situation of minorities impacted by the ISIL takeover of significant areas in the Ninewah plain. He called it the collective responsibility of all Iraqis to assist the displaced. The President expressed particular concern over the fate of the minority Yezidi community.

“The United Nations reiterates that international law imposes obligations on all parties to the present conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and their access to humanitarian assistance,” said UNAMI.