Mosul: 150 civilians killed in coalition attack

Handicap International condemns the heavy price paid by civilians in Mosul, Iraq. More than 150 civilians were killed in an international coalition airstrike on Mosul’s Al-Jadida district on 17th March 2017.

“We strongly condemn the heavy price paid by civilians in Mosul since the start of the military offensive against the Islamic State group last October,” said Anne Héry, head of advocacy and institutional relations at Handicap International.

“We urge all belligerent parties to protect civilians, as required by international humanitarian law,” she added. “On an international level, States must immediately commit to recognising the problems caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and bring it to an end.”

On 15th March 2017, Handicap International launched an international campaign to collect one million signatures to “Stop Bombing Civilians”. The organisation’s goal is to collect one million signatures and to present them to political decision-makers in September 2018. As a member of the INEW (International Network on Explosive Weapons) coalition, the organisation is calling on States to take a stand against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.