費盧傑激戰導致平民傷亡
Civilian casualties are beginning to mount as the battle for the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah intensifies.
"A human catastrophe is unfolding in Fallujah. Families are caught in the crossfire with no safe way out," said an official of the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Iraqi forces have launched an offensive aimed at retaking the city.
At least 20,000 children are trapped inside the city, according to a statement released by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The organization has urged all parties to ensure the safety of these children.
The U. N. refugee agency has received reports of civilians being killed in heavy shelling or buried alive under the rubble of their homes.
"There are also reports of several hundred families being used as human shields" by Islamic State militants, said UNHCR spokesman William Spindler.
Some 625 families have managed to escape the fighting since last week. Iraqi forces are separating out and screening the men, out of concern about the loyalties of those who are leaving the city after living under IS rule for more than two years.隨着攻打伊斯蘭國控制的伊拉克城市費盧傑的戰鬥加劇，平民傷亡開始增加。
挪威難民理事會的一名官員說：“費盧傑正在發生一場人類災難。平民百姓被困在交戰炮火中，無法安全逃脫。”
伊拉克部隊爲奪回這座城市而發動進攻。
聯合國兒童基金會發表聲明說，至少2萬兒童被困在費盧傑城內。聯合國兒童基金會敦促交戰各方確保這些兒童的安全。
聯合國難民署還得到了一些有關平民在猛烈炮火中喪生或在房子廢墟里被活埋的報告。
難民署發言人斯平德勒說，還有報道說，“數百戶家庭”被伊斯蘭國激進分子“當作人體盾牌”。
自戰鬥上週打響以來，已有大約625戶人家設法外逃。伊拉克部隊將逃出的男子進行隔審查，擔心那些在伊斯蘭國組織統治下生活了兩年多後離開那裏的人們是否效忠伊斯蘭國。
