Civilians lack food, water, medicine as Mosul battle mounts - U.N.

An Iraqi Federal Police member fires an RPG towards Islamic State militants during a battle in western Mosul, Iraq, May 28, 2017. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of civilians in parts of Mosul held by Islamic State are struggling to get food, water and medicine, the United Nations said, days into a new push by U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops to take the northern city.

Up to 200,000 people still live behind Islamic State lines in Mosul's Old City and three other districts, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande told Reuters late on Sunday.