The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, is actively preparing for an outflow of civilians from Mosul. High commissioner Filippo Grandi has met with the Jordanian foreign minister in Jordan.

Grandi emphasised he was talking about 'possible' outflows of refugees from Iraq, but said the big challenge will be finding sites to accommodate them if there is a huge exodus. UNHCR said recently up to a hundred thousand Iraqis may flee to Syria and Turkey to escape the government's assault aimed at ousting Islamic State from Mosul.

"Possible outflow of people - in fact, most of them will be displaced within Iraq, maybe some we have observed, some crossing into Syria, but still very small numbers, and a lot of preparations in all areas - shelter, water, food, medicines, you name it. The big challenge which I observed, and which we are addressing slowly but surely, is sites to put people. It's not easy," Grandi said.