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‘ISIS Cut My Hand Off': Why One Boy Fled Mosul

More than 210,000 Iraqis have been forced to flee the city since the military operation began in October, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR

Ali Ibrahim can't read, but he knew the carefully folded decree he was carrying said that ISIS cut his hand off for stealing.

The shy 18-year-old said he stole out of hunger, one of thousands of tales of misery at the Hamam al-Alil camp for internally displaced people south of the Iraqi city of Mosul.

"I'm responsible for three families. My brothers can't work. I went and stole to feed my family. ISIS cut my hand off," he said matter-of-factly while gesticulating with his left hand. He said his right hand was amputated with a meat cleaver.

More than 210,000 Iraqis have been forced to flee the city since the military operation began in October, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

Many arrive visibly traumatized, hungry and dehydrated, according to the UNHCR. 

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