Rights group calls for aid to Iraq's 'starving' Fallujah

Human Rights Watch called Thursday on Iraq to allow aid to reach starving residents of the city of Fallujah, and for Daesh group to allow civilians to leave, according to the Daily Mail.

"The people of Fallujah are besieged by the government, trapped by (IS), and are starving," HRW's deputy Middle East director, Joe Stork, said in a statement.

"The warring parties should make sure that aid reaches the civilian population."

Anti-government fighters took control of Fallujah, just 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad, in early 2014 during unrest that broke out after security forces demolished a protest camp farther west, and it later became a Daesh stronghold.

Daesh seized more territory in surrounding Anbar province after launching an offensive later that year, but pro-government forces have since regained significant ground from the jihadists.

Iraqi forces have largely cut off access to Fallujah, while Daesh is preventing residents from leaving the city.

Source: MENA