An estimated 2,500 children and their families have arrived in the past 48 hours at camps south east of Mosul as Iraqi forces today for the first time entered the city streets and intensified their battle to retake Mosul, UNICEF Representative in Iraq Peter Hawkins said in a press statement released Saturday. 

Last night and today we have seen the single largest displacement of people since the start of the 17 October military operation, read the statement. 

Meanwhile, UNICEF voiced concern over reports that children and women are being used as human shields and called on all parties to respect the rights of women and children, who are paying a heavy price for a conflict not of their making.

Source: MENA