Iraq

We have no home to go back to’: citizens of Mosul return to ruin, September 2017

With Islamic State expelled from Mosul after a prolonged siege, residents who joined the million-strong exodus from Iraq’s second largest city are slowly starting to return. For most, however, the process is fraught with difficulty. Amid the chaos and carnage, homes were destroyed, children became separated from parents and ID papers were lost. With food and other staples in short supply, and aid agencies stretched to the limit, the future looks bleak.

Children paly amongst rows of tents that are covered in dust in a camp for people displaced from Mosul in Nortehrn Iraq Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Nearly 1 million people have been internally displaced in Iraq since ISIL started gaining control of large areas of Northern Iraq from the Iraq forces. Many have no hope of returning home as insecurity continues and live in camps where there are limited services.
A young mother cradles her baby in front of a tent she is living in with two other families at a camp for displaced people in Northern Iraq Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Nearly 1million people have been internally displaced in Iraq since ISIL started gaining control of large areas of Northern Iraq from the Iraq forces. Many like these ones have no hope of returning home as insecurity continues.
Gamara puts her hand on the head of her four year old disabled son Hathan in the tent they are living in a camp for displased people near Erbil, Iraq Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Gamara and her three children were forced to flee Mousl in October of 2016 when the Iraqi army and ISIL started fighting near the neighbourhood. Gamara doesn't want to return because there is no support for her son there and their house has been destroyedNearly 1million people have been internally displaced in Iraq since ISIL started gaining control of large areas of Northern Iraq from the Iraq forces.
Gamara puts her hand on the head of her four year old disabled son Hathan in the tent they are living in a camp for displased people near Erbil, Iraq Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Gamara and her three children were forced to flee Mousl in October of 2016 when the Iraqi army and ISIL started fighting near the neighbourhood. Gamara doesn't want to return because there is no support for her son there and their house has been destroyedNearly 1million people have been internally displaced in Iraq since ISIL started gaining control of large areas of Northern Iraq from the Iraq forces.
Sayed, 14 years old, who was captured by ISIL for two years with his brother but managed to escape, poses for a photograph at an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. “When ISIS came to Talafir two years ago my brother and me were captured by them. We had to work hard every day – doing jobs like cleaning.They also taught us how to shoot with guns. We had to learn the Qu’aran and how to fight. One day we were moved to a new location – and it had two entrances. My brother and I managed to escape out the door that wasn’t well guarded and into the hills. We walked for nine days before reaching this camp.”
Mohammed, a young boy who fled from his home in Mosul three years ago with his brother and grandparents, leaving his parents behind, poses a for photograph with his grandfather and brother in an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced from Mosul since 2014 in the biggest battle since the second world war.
Ali, a former soldier with the Iraqi Army, holds up his ID card at an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced from Mosul since 2014 in the biggest battle since the second world war.
A young girl sits next to her sister who is holidng a pot of rice that is what they will eat for lunch at an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Many people are starting to return to their homes if they can afford to rebuild, but others have no money to rebuild and are stuck living in camps for the foreseeable future.
A young boy sits on top of a truck containing his families belongings on teh road to Mosul , Iraq Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced from Mosul since 2014 in the biggest battle since the second world war. Many are returning but everything has been destroyed and rebuilding will take years
Children play in the evening light outside their tents that are situated in the shadow of destroyed buildings near Hammam Al-Alil Camp Mosul, Iraq Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced from Mosul since 2014 in the biggest battle since the second world war.
Khalo Hussein Mohammed who was a bulider back in Mosul before being forced to flee when ISIL came, poses for a photograph with his five children at a camp for displaced people near Erbil, Iraq Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Khalo says they have no money to return to Mosul to rebuild their house : ". If I had a choice I would leave Iraq. I have never seen peace or happiness in my country and I don’t think it will come. All I want is peace for my children, my family. I want to be able to relax and not think about war."
Zaha, a grandfather who has fled with his family from Talazar near Mosul to escape fighting between Iraqi forces and ISIL, poses for a photograph with his two grandchildren at an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. One of his grandsons, Salafi was injured when a bomb exploded in their village, that killed his son,the boys father. Eleven members of one family are now living in this one tent. As Yazidis they still do not feel safe to return home as insecurity is rife.
Rows of shoes are neatly stacked Dohuk, Iraq Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. Nearly 1million people have been internally displaced in Iraq since ISIL started gaining control of large areas of Northern Iraq from the Iraq forces. Many like these ones have no hope of returning home as insecurity continues and they are making their temporary shelters into homes where they will stay for the foreseeable future.
A young boy stands next to a truck as his family load up their possession to return to the city of Mosul now peace has been declared in a camp for displaced people in Northern Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul reached an unprecedented level, with nearly 1 million people displaced. Some families are starting to return but as this boys father said "We have no home to go back to - we don't know what the future holds."
Mohammed holds his grand daughter in front of a row of now empty tents at an IDP camp in Norhtern Iraq. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced from Mosul since 2014 in the biggest battle since the second world war. Many are returning home if they can afford to, but people like Mohammed don't have the money to rebuild their homes that have been destroyed.
Young girls play a game at a Child Friendly Space that is run by War Child UK at an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul forced nearly 1 million people to seek refuge in camps outside of Mosul. Many are children like these who are no longer able to go to school.
A woman walks passed a destroyed University building in Hamam al-Alil, Mosul in September 2017. The city was liberated in November 2016 by Iraqi forces from ISIL who are reported to have massacred over 40 civilians in the city and buried them under this rubble.ÊÊThe exodus of civilians from the battleground of #Mosul has reached an unprecedented level, leaving aid agencies struggling to cope. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced from Mosul since 2014 in the biggest battle since the second world war.
Young children look through a fence at a Child Friendly Space that is run by War Child UK at an IDP camp near Dohuk, Iraq Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. The exodus of civilians from the battleground northern Iraqi city of Mosul forced nearly 1 million people to seek refuge in camps outside of Mosul. Many are children like these who are no longer able to go to school.