The declaration by the UN of a “Level 3 Emergency” would “facilitate mobilisation of additional resources in goods, funds and assets to ensure a more effective response to the humanitarian needs of populations affected by forced displacements”, said UN special representative Nickolay Mladenov.

The situation of displaced people on Mount Sinjar remained critical, he added.

The UN estimated that tens of thousands of people, mainly from Christian and Yazidi religious minorities, were besieged on the mountain after being forced by Islamic State group to flee their homes.

It is also estimated that a total of 1.5 million Iraqis have been displaced since June when the Islamic State group captured Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul, and quickly proceed to other parts of the country.