WILAYAH NEWS VOICE OF THE GLOBAL AWAKENING
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The violence in Iraq has killed more than 5,500 civilians over the first six months of the year, according to a report by the United Nations that documents the massive humanitarian toll of the Sunni militant offensive.
The Islamic State (Isis) and other Sunni insurgents seized control of the city of Falluja, as well as part of nearby Ramadi in Anbar province in early January. The militants then launched an offensive in June that has brought a huge swath of northern and western Iraq under their control.
In its report, the UN mission to Iraq says at least 5,576 civilians were killed and another 11,665 wounded from 1 January until the end of June. Another 1.2 million have been driven from their homes by the violence, it adds.
The pace of civilian deaths over the first six months marked a sharp increase over the previous year. In all of 2013, the UN reported just over 7,800 civilians killed, which was the highest annual death toll in years.
The fighting “has inflicted untold hardship and suffering on the civilian population with large-scale killings, injuries, and destruction and damage of livelihoods and property”, the UN report says.
It also documents human rights abuses by both sides of the conflict that may constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes.
The UN said Isis and its allies had committed “systematic and egregious violations” against civilians, including killings, sexual violence, kidnappings, destruction of property and attacks on places of religious worship.
It also documented violations by government forces, including summary executions of prisoners and detainees.
The UN urged all sides in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians, and to respect international law and humanitarian law.
The office of the Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, said on Friday the ailing leader would return on Saturday from Germany, where he has been receiving medical treatment since 2012. Few details have been released about his condition.
Talabani is finishing up his second consecutive term as president and is not eligible to run again.
Why do we have to say “sunni” insurgents?! they are not Sunni, they are takfiri/wahabis, they are extreme, barbaric, beasts causing havoc and destruction. They are enemies of Sunni and Shia, infact they are enemies of all of humanity who call for peace and justice.
In a time where Unity is the key to the middle east turmoil, we should not use words that automatically divide the people. We must focus on our commonalities and use these to counter the sectarian propaganda that the enemies are baiting us naïve people with.
You have a greater responsibility as people sharing news to the world.
“The Islamic State (Isis) and other Sunni insurgents” what do you think this line will show to the ill-informed Shia or non Muslim people reading it. It will tell them that “sunnis are causing this
destruction, when in reality they are not. These Takfiris are separate from any religion or sect, they physically and forcibly confront anyone who disagrees with there satanic ideology.
Please learn from the past mistakes, and take heed from wise scholars. These divisive words are inconsistent with the values of “Wilayah”