UN Human Rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has condemned the “massive loss of civilian lives in western Mosul,” where at least 307 people have been killed and 273 wounded in just over a month.
Hussein stated that Iraqi and coalition forces “really need to take care in this situation," adding that Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) is herding civilians into booby-trapped buildings in western Mosul, using them as human shields, and firing at those who flee.
“This is an enemy that ruthlessly exploits civilians to serve its own ends, and clearly has not even the faintest qualm about deliberately placing them in danger," he said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.
"It is vital that the Iraqi Security Forces and their Coalition partners avoid this trap," Hussein added, while calling for them to conduct “thorough and transparent” investigations into civilian deaths.
URGENT: 307 civilians killed, 273 wounded in western #Mosul since February 17 – UN human rights chief https://t.co/xt5U6PKmeW
— RT (@RT_com) March 28, 2017
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