Heaps of bodies are being uncovered amongst the rubble of Mosul and in its river, threatening contamination and a public health emergency. While the Iraqi government is now working to clear the main roads through the city, some of the bodies are being dumped in the river. Many more lay scattered on the riverbanks. A number of people have returned to the east side has since been diagnosed with diseases that may be related to the water contamination.
Meanwhile, Royal Jordanian Airlines stated they will resume flights from Amman to airports in the Kurdistan Region on April 1, with the first one flying to Sulaimani. Passengers will be offered a discounted price of 280 JOD (about $395) for the two-way trip and travelers can buy tickets from Friday [March 16] through the end of this month to travel between April 1 and June 8.
Lastly, FIFA lifted a three-decade long ban on Iraq on Friday, allowing three provinces to host international football matches. Three cities, Erbil, Basra and Karbala had been allowed last year to host friendly matches, providing the security situation was “stable.” On March 21, Iraq is set to host Qatar and Syria for one such friendly tournament in Basra.
