ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Nearly 250 civilians were killed in Iraq in July, a significant drop in casualty figures from the month before with the conclusion of major operations in Mosul.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) published on Tuesday their monthly casualty figures, stating that a total of 241 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 277 injured in acts of violence, terrorism, and armed conflict.
In June, 415 civilians were killed and 300 injured.
Most of the casualties occurred in Nineveh Province and its capital Mosul as a result of intense fighting between Iraqi troops and ISIS militants in the liberation of west Mosul from the terrorist group - 121 civilians were killed and 112 injured.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared west Mosul liberated on July 10, bringing an end to major operations in the city.
Baghdad was the second-most deadly with 38 civilians killed and 85 injured.
The health department in Anbar reported the province recorded 33 deaths and 49 injuries.
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Iraq, Jan Kubis condemned ISIS’ continued deliberate targeting of civilians and reiterated the need to protect civilians in conflict.
“As we commend the Iraqi forces’ humanitarian concept of operations that has put civilian protection and assistance to IDPs at the center of the battle plan for Mosul, it is imperative that the protection of civilians continues to be the top priority in the conduct of military operations going forward,” Kubis said.
UNAMI stated it had also received information of a large number of casualties resulting from “secondary effects of violence after having their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care.”
Due to the difficulties obtaining casualty figures and verifying reports, UNAMI states their figures “have to be considered as the absolute minimum.”
