In Iraq, three suicide car bombs driven by members of ISIS killed at least 15 civilians and eight Iraqi police officers on Thursday, as the battle to retake the city of Mosul raged into its third month. The attacks came in a suburb east of Mosul that Iraq’s military claimed to have captured weeks ago. The fighting came as many residents of Mosul remained in their homes despite the fierce battles nearby. Many said conditions in camps for displaced people were so poor they would rather risk death. This is Abdullah Murad, who left a camp east of Mosul on Wednesday.

Abdullah Murad: “Even the simplest necessities are unavailable. We are surrounded by mud. Look at us. This is how it is with the mud. Yesterday, a tent caught fire. It was indescribable. Then the tent was engulfed in flames in 20 seconds, and people died. It is cold, very cold during the night. We are going to try and stay with relatives or in some home. It will be better than the camp.”