With Mosul victory at hand, displaced residents ponder uncertain future

After three weeks of fighting in the narrow streets of the Old City where Daesh is making its last stand, state TV said on Saturday that Iraqi security forces expected to take full control of Mosul in the coming hours.

The final phase of the battle has proved the bloodiest, with Daesh trapped in a shrinking corner of the city.

For displaced inhabitants, the ordeal may soon be over but the future remains uncertain.

"There is no work there (in Mosul) and the situation is still not stable," said Hussein, 18, who has fled Mosul twice this year.

He first left the Tanak neighborhood when it became a front line in the battle, but returned, only to leave again around three weeks ago. Daesh staged a counter-attack in the area just days later.

"It's safer here than there," he said.

Many at the Hassan Sham camp are from the eastern half of the city, even though it was retaken in January and normal life has to some extent returned there.

Aziz Ahmad, 43, said he would return to Mosul if he could, but cannot afford the fare back to Mosul, let alone rent a place to live in the city, where increased demand for housing has pushed up prices.

Younis Idrees, 20, fled the Aden district four months ago fearing Daesh sleeper cells and bombings.

"Unless the situation improves we won't return," he said. "It's not clear what will happen." ($1 = 1,167.0000 Iraqi dinars)