I saw my city die: Voices from the front lines of urban conflict in Iraq, Syria and Yemen

Urban wars in Iraq, Syria and Yemen are amongst the deadliest conflicts of our time. People’s homes, their doorsteps, their streets, their schools and their hospitals are all part of the battlefield now. Sieges have become all too common, trapping communities between fighters. Devastating explosive weapons terrorize people, young and old. And the violence and losses that people experience day in and day out – in cities that can no longer meet their basic needs – are major causes of displacement within these countries and beyond. Through first-hand stories of residents of cities like Aleppo in Syria, Mosul in Iraq and Taiz in Yemen, I saw my city die vividly explores the consequences of these conflicts for communities and cities, and for entire countries. Drawing from the present and from the experience of cities like Beirut, during and after Lebanon's 15-year civil war, the report makes clear and urgent recommendations about the immediate and longer-term steps that military forces and armed groups, governments and others can and must take to help alleviate and prevent human suffering. Please note that the views expressed by external contributors are theirs alone and not necessarily shared by the ICRC.