Not only are they in danger of getting killed or injured in the cross-fire, now potentially more than half a million people do not have safe water to drink,” said UNICEF’s Iraq representative Peter Hawkins. More than six weeks into the offensive against Daesh's last major city stronghold in Iraq, the army is trying to dislodge militants dug in among civilians in the eastern districts, the only side Iraqi troops have been able to breach. The damaged conduit remains inside the group's territory, making it inaccessible for repairs, according to a UNICEF statement released Wednesday

An Iraqi-led offensive began in October to liberate Mosul after more than two years under ISIS control. The Kurdish fighters will not have a role in retaking Mosul itself, but have been fighting back the terror group in northern Iraq for two years. The forces commanders, while claiming daily victories, admit that the existence of civilians in the city, many of whom are reportedly used as human shields, have slowed down the pace of operations. "There is a clear pattern that we have seen in many of the cities and towns ISIS has occupied: that they will use water, food, anything to coerce the population," Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, told CNN. "The way the Iraqi forces are fighting the battle they are doing anything they can to protect the civilians. The terror group maintains control of critical water and electricity plants that service thousands of homes in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city. “In the next few days we will liberate and control the left bank of Mosul,” Rasoul predicted. "I will have no choice if the situation continues like this but to leave my house with my family and head to the west."
At least 15 children are killed by ISIS snipers in Mosul.