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Reliefwebint, 17 October 2016

UNHCR urgently needs USD 61 million for its response in Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Priority requirements include tents, camps, NFI kits, winter items and support to the most vulnerable (see sidebar for details).

BATTLE FOR MOSUL BEGINS

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi, announced today that “the operation to liberate Mosul has started." Following the announcement, there were reportedly artillery barrages and armoured vehicles moving toward the front lines. The government has broadcast messages by radio and leaflets urging civilians to stay in their homes.

UNHCR RESPONSE READINESS IN IRAQ

    As part of the overall humanitarian response plan under the guidance of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq, UNHCR has prepared camps, prepositioned stocks of shelter and NFI materials, and mobilized protection teams.

    UNHCR has in place 21,800 tents, sufficient to cover the shelter needs of 130,800 people, with more arriving every day. Given the possible scale of displacement, additional tents are a priority for UNHCR.

    UNHCR has prepared three camps with space to accommodate 35,184 people.

    UNHCR has in place or in the pipeline 25,000 NFI kits, enough to meet the needs of 150,000 people.

UNHCR RESPONSE READINESS IN SYRIA & TURKEY

    UNHCR is concerned that events in Mosul may cause up to 100,000 Iraqis to flee towards Syria and Turkey.

    Preparedness plans are underway in Syria to receive up to 90,000 Iraqi refugees. Reception and screening capacity is being reinforced and a location which previously hosted Iraqis during the 2007 Iraqi conflict is being readied to accommodate another wave of up to 50,000 Iraqi refugees. UNHCR is coordinating the Iraqi refugee response in Syria since 2007, including the 26,000 Iraqi refugees currently in Syria, many of whom have been in exile for more than ten years.

    Discussions are underway with relevant officials to prepare contingencies for any influx of Iraqi refugees in Turkey.

Wyatt Roy will not be investigated over Iraq frontline trip: AFP

Sbs, 17 October 2016

Wyatt Roy with a member of the Peshmerga in Sinjar area, west of Mosul, Iraq.

 Wyatt Roy with a member of the Peshmerga in Sinjar area, west of Mosul, Iraq.

Wyatt Roy was condemned by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Biship after SBS News revealed he was caught in a gun-fight between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and fighters from the so-called Islamic State near Sinjar, close to the Syrian border.

The Kurdish-controlled area he visited is near Mosul, which is a declared conflict zone under Australian law, meaning Australian citizens are legally banned from entering.

During Senate estimates, Greens Senator Nick McKim asked Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin whether Mr Roy was being investigated.

"We're very conscious that it was a high profile matter and we did our own due diligence to satisfy ourselves, but no we don't have a current open investigation in relation to that," Commissioner Colvin told the hearing.

"Based on the public reporting we did form a conclusion that we didn't believe any offences had been committed.

"I guess I should leave commentary about the appropriateness of the activity to the  government, which they have made comment on but we have no active investigation in relation into his movements."

Mr Turnbull blasted Mr Roy for the trip last month.

Comment: If you haven't been to the frontline, you don't get to condemn Wyatt Roy

Politicians and public servants routinely make decisions about regions of the world they’ve never been to, affecting people they’ve never met. Are we really throwing someone under the bus who wanted to see the front lines for himself?

"I'm disappointed in Wyatt, he shouldn't have gone to Iraq," he said.

"He was acting in defiance of government advice. It was very stupid.

"Australians should not go to those parts of the world."

He Turnbull said he would be giving some "very sage and stern advice" upon Mr Roy's return to Australia.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said former Liberal frontbencher Wyatt Roy's trip to Iraq was "irresponsible".

"He has placed himself at risk of physical harm and capture, and acted in defiance of government advice," Ms Bishop said.

At Monday's hearing, Attorney-General George Brandis said Senator McKim's question was not appropriate.

"Mr Roy is a private citizen and was a private citizen at all relevant times," Senator Brandis said.

"I just wonder why the affairs of a private citizen, who is not under investigation... should be a matter for this estimates committee."

Mr Roy has since staunchly defended his trip to the Kurdish-controlled region, saying he wanted to educate himself about the conflict and support the Kurds with resources and in their fight for statehood.