The UN's refugee agency has warned that over 1 million people could be uprooted by the military operation to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State extremist group.
"In Mosul, we believe the displacement situation may be about to dramatically worsen," UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards said during a press briefing in Geneva on August 23.
"The humanitarian impact of the military offensive is expected to be enormous. Up to 1.2 million people could be affected," he said, adding that additional land for camps and funding is still needed.
His comments came as Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. air strikes have been regaining territory from the militants in Iraq.
Iraqi forces have seized control of a number of villages in northern Iraq and are preparing to retake the IS-held town of Qayyarah ahead of a major assault on Mosul, the largest city still in the militants' hands.