BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres landed in Baghdad on Thursday morning, where he has met with Iraqi President Fuad Masum and other top Iraqi officials to discuss the protection of civilians, as Iraqi forces fight to defeat ISIS militarily in the country’s second-largest city of Mosul.
“Just arrived in Iraq to focus on the dire humanitarian situation on the ground,” Guterres tweeted. “Protection of civilians must be the absolute priority.”
According to UN figures, at least 307 people have been killed and another 273 wounded between February 17 and March 22, with March 17 being the deadliest day.
In the past month, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that at least 165,744 people have been displaced from western Mosul, as Iraqi forces supported by the US-led international coalition battle ISIS.
Cumulatively, at least 350,000 individuals have been displaced by Mosul operations; however, as of 23 March, more than 76,000 have returned, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), which relies on IOM data.
Guterres and the UN delegation also met with Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Speaker of the Council of Representatives Salim al-Jubouri, and other government officials.
Guterres is expected to visit the Kurdistan Region later in the day.
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