Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 6 June 2017

UNICEF: 100,000 children in dangerous conditions in Mosul

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN killed, injured and used as
Associated Press human shields. Children are
BAGHDAD (AP) — Mo- experiencing and witness-
sul’s children are bearing ing terrible violence that
the brunt of the intensified no human being should
fight between U.S.-backed ever witness,” he said in a
government forces and statement. “In some cases,
the Islamic State group in they have been forced to
the city’s western half, the participate in the fighting
United Nations children’s and violence,” he added.
agency warned on Mon- Backed by the U.S.-led in-
day. ternational coalition, Iraq
Iraqi forces are in their last last October launched a
push to drive IS militants wide-scale military offen-
from the remaining pock- sive to recapture Mosul
ets of territory they still hold and the surrounding areas,
in the Old City where nar- with various Iraqi military,
row streets and a dense ci- police and paramilitary
vilian population are com- forces taking part in the
plicating the fight. operation.
The UNICEF Representative The city’s eastern half was
in Iraq, Peter Hawkins, said declared liberated in Jan-
the agency is receiving uary, and the push for the
“alarming reports” of civil- In this Friday, March 31, 2017 photo, children wait as their mother collects food being distributed in city’s western section, sep-
ians being killed, including a neighborhood recently retaken by Iraqi security forces during fighting against Islamic State mili- arated from the east by
children, with some caught tants on the western side of in Mosul, Iraq. Mosul’s children are bearing the brunt of the intensified the Tigris River, began the
in the crossfire while trying fight between U.S.-backed government forces and the Islamic State group in the city’s western following month.
half, the United Nations children’s agency warned on Monday, June 5, 2017.
to flee. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) Human Rights Watch said
Hawkins didn’t give a spe- local armed forces told
cific number for killed chil- the IS-held Old City neigh- called on the warring par- in line with their obligations foreign journalists that in
dren. borhood and other areas, ties to “protect the chil- under humanitarian law.” 15 of the cases the men
He estimated that 100,000 living under extremely dren and keep them out “Children’s lives are on the were extra-judicially killed
girls and boys are still in dangerous conditions. He of harm’s way at all times, line. Children are being by government forces who
Netanyahu: were holding them on sus-
picion of being affiliated
Israel to keep security control over West Bank with the IS.
HRW added that in the re-
maining cases, that were
By ILAN BEN ZION security. and Gaza Strip, with east and Palestinians, under the reported by local and in-
Associated Press “For that reason, in any Jerusalem as its capital. auspices of former Secre- ternational sources, the
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli agreement, and even Palestinians reject any Is- tary of State John Kerry, sites of the apparent ex-
Prime Minister Benjamin without an agreement, we raeli military presence in broke down in April 2014. ecutions all in government
Netanyahu said Monday will maintain security con- their future state, while Is- Since taking office earlier held territory raise con-
that Israel will maintain se- trol over the entire territory rael considers some form this year, President Donald cerns about government
curity control over all of the west of the Jordan River,” of military presence in the Trump has pushed to kick responsibility for the killings.
West Bank, with or without he said. Israel defeated West Bank essential for its start peace talks. He visited “The bodies of bound and
a peace agreement with Egypt, Syria and Jordan in national security. Israel and the West Bank blindfolded men are being
the Palestinians. six days of fighting in June Israel returned the Sinai to last month during his first found one after the other
Speaking at a ceremony 1967, capturing the West Egypt as part of a landmark trip abroad as part of his ef- in and around Mosul and in
marking the 50th anniver- Bank and east Jerusalem 1979 peace agreement. forts to bring about “the ul- the Tigris River, raising seri-
sary of the 1967 Mideast from Jordan, the Gaza In 2005, it withdrew its set- timate deal” between the ous concerns about extra-
war, when Israel captured Strip and Sinai Peninsula tlers and troops from Gaza, two sides. Trump, however, judicial killings by govern-
the West Bank, Netanya- from Egypt and the Golan which is now controlled by has given few hints on how ment forces,” said Lama
hu said Israel seeks “true Heights from Syria. the Hamas militant group. he plans to accomplish Fakih, deputy Middle East
peace” with its neighbors The Palestinians seek a fu- The latest round of nego- what a string of predeces- director at Human Rights
but all has to ensure its own ture state in the West Bank tiations between the Israelis sors has failed to do.q Watch. q