Thousands of Iraqis surged out of western Mosul on Saturday during a lull in heavy fighting in districts around the densely populated Old City.

Five months into the battle, government forces have taken control of the east and half of western Mosul, and are now focused on controlling the Old City as well as the strategic al-Nuri Mosque.

As fighting has entered into the narrow alleyways and densely populated parts of the west, more residents are fleeing areas where food and water are scarce, security fragile and where homes are often caught in shelling.

"We have been trapped for 25 days. No water, no food, everyone will die and they will have to pull us from the rubble," said one resident of Bab Jdid district, not giving his name because relatives remained inside Mosul.

Families with elderly relatives and children marched through western Mosul's muddy streets, past buildings pock-marked by bullet and bombs. Some said they had hardly eaten in weeks, scrambling for supplies handed out by a local aid agency.

As many as 600,000 civilians may be caught inside the city.

Iraqi forces cut off Mosul from the remaining territory that ISIS controls in Iraq and Syria. But even in those areas, many prefer to leave the city amid heavy fighting.

Around 255,000 people have been displaced from Mosul and surrounding areas since October, including more than 100,000 since the latest military campaign in western Mosul began on Feb. 19, according to United Nations figures.

The last week has seen the highest level of displacement yet, with 32,000 displaced between March 12 and 15.

PHOTO CAPTION

Displaced Iraqi people from different areas in Mosul flee their homes after clashes to reach safe areas, Iraq March 18, 2017.

REUTERS