In Mosul, at least 500,000 people have no access to running water

As the battle for Mosul, Iraq, rages on, at least 500,000 residents do not have access to running water.

The United Nations told CNN on Wednesday that during fighting in eastern Mosul between Iraqi forces and the Islamic State, one of three major water pipelines was hit, and because it is in an area controlled by ISIS, it can't be repaired. People inside Mosul say that ISIS has also cut off water supplies to the front lines, because they "want to force people to retreat with them in order to use them as human shields," one resident told CNN. Some residents are using makeshift wells they built when ISIS first took control of the city, but it takes several days just to get a few jugs of dirty water.

Mosul has been under ISIS control for more than two years, and Iraqi-led forces started their offensive to retake the city in October. It was reported last week that the forces have completely surrounded Mosul, cutting off all supply lines to ISIS. Mosul is the last ISIS stronghold in Iraq.

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