War-ravaged village of Habash struggles to rebuild - in pictures

Reconstruction remains largely at a standstill, eight years on from fighting with ISIS

A boy is seen through a hole in the wall of a house in the war-ravaged village of Habash, 180 kilometres north of Iraq's capital Baghdad. All photos by AFP

Eight years after heavy fighting between ISIS and the army, the reconstruction of the war-ravaged village in northern Iraq is at a standstill.

A woman works in the kitchen of her damaged house.

Children play outside their damaged house in the war-ravaged village.

Many homes have been left destroyed or uninhabitable.

A girl stands on the wall of her family's damaged house.

Issa Al Zamzoum, a father of five, with his family inside their home.

While the Baghdad government eventually celebrated military "victory" over ISIS in December 2017, the scale of destruction in Habash was immense.

Mr Al Zamzoum walks past a destroyed house.

Pupils on their way home from school.

For residents of the already hard-hit area, the suffering has not ended in many ways.

Nearly 20,000 people displaced or affected by the conflict need aid in the area, says the Norwegian Refugee Council.

As well as basic needs like clean water and electricity, even obtaining identity papers is a challenge for many.

While Habash is under government control, ISIS militants still operate only 15 kilometres further north.

A boy stands by a destroyed house.

A woman looks out her damaged house in the war-ravaged village of Habash, some 180 kilometres north of Iraq's capital Baghdad, on April 25, 2022. - Eight years after heavy fighting between Islamic State jihadists and the army, the reconstruction of the war-ravaged village in northern Iraq is at a standstill. In 2014 the jihadists, who controlled the key northern city of Mosul and surrounding areas, moved south to attack Amerli, using surrounding settlements such as Habash as bases for their assault. (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP)

Residents say they have appealed to their member of parliament for support, but nothing has changed.

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