Iraqis drown while fleeing Fallujah

Several Iraqi civilians fleeing fighting in the city of Fallujah have drowned in the Euphrates River while attempting to cross to safety into government-controlled areas. Thousands of civilians are caught in the crossfire in and around Fallujah, controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS) group, as government forces and […]

Several Iraqi civilians fleeing fighting in the city of Fallujah have drowned in the Euphrates River while attempting to cross to safety into government-controlled areas.
Thousands of civilians are caught in the crossfire in and around Fallujah, controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS) group, as government forces and allied militias are trying to recapture the city.
Hundreds of Iraqi families were reportedly trying to cross the river into the government-held city of Amiriyat al-Fallujah, about 50km south of Fallujah.
In the absence of organised help by the government, many of the people fleeing have been using makeshift boats.
The UNHCR confirmed that several people, including children, had drowned while trying to flee the city.
The route is one of “safe corridors” provided by the Iraqi army out of the city. Two other passages into government-controlled territory are not being used by civilians due to safety concerns.