UN official: Fight against IS in Iraq left huge destruction

BAGHDAD – A senior United Nations official says the fight against the Islamic State group has left behind massive destruction in Iraq and enormous planning and investment are needed for rebuilding.

Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the level of destruction in liberated areas “is really, really huge.” Kacyira is visiting Iraq to evaluate the destruction.

After a fierce, nearly three-year fight with the extremist group, which once controlled large swaths in northern and western Iraq, U.S.-backed Iraqi forces succeeded in driving out the militants from nearly all the areas — but at a high cost.

Thousands were left dead, entire neighbourhoods are in ruins and more than 3 million have been displaced from their homes.