Turkey ready for hundreds of thousands of Mosul refugees

Turkey is ready for hundreds of thousands of potential refugees fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul after a US-backed operation to remove Islamic State began, the deputy prime minister has said.

However, Turkey does not expect an influx of refugees if the operation is conducted "correctly", said Numan Kurtulmus

Turkey has repeatedly warned that the operation in Mosul could unleash sectarian strife. It has been locked in a row with Baghdad about the presence of Turkish troops at a camp in northern Iraq and over who should take part in the assault on the city.

The United Nations refugee agency said up to 100,000 Iraqis may flee to Syria and Turkey

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued an appeal for an additional $61m to provide tents, camps, winter items and stoves for displaced people inside Iraq and the two neighbouring countries.

"UNHCR is concerned that events in Mosul may cause up to 100,000 Iraqis to flee towards Syria and Turkey," it said. "Preparedness plans are underway in Syria to receive up to 90,000 Iraqi refugees."