Canada calls for more aid to prevent humanitarian catastrophe for those fleeing Mosul

OTTAWA – International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says the global community has to do more to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe as Iraqi and ISIS forces fight for the city of Mosul.

Aid groups, together with the UN, launched an appeal in July for $284 million to prepare for an expected flood of people whenever Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched their attack to reclaim Iraq’s second-largest city.

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But while the long-anticipated attack started Monday, the UN says less than half of what is needed has been donated by the international community.

READ MORE: Residents of town neighbouring Mosul rose up against ISIS before Iraqi troops arrived

As a result, aid groups say they are ready to help only a fraction of the estimated 1.2 million people believed trapped inside Mosul.

Canada is the fifth-largest donor when it comes to humanitarian aid for Iraq.

Bibeau says the international community has a responsibility to help and that all donors must respond.