Up to a quarter of a million Iraqis could flee their homes as the city of Mosul braces for an escalation of the conflict in its densely-populated west, the UN warned Friday (February 3rd).

UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said the agency and other organisations are urgently preparing to respond "to a potential significant new flight of displaced Iraqis escaping the latest phase in the military offensive in western Mosul," AFP reported.

"A significant population is trapped in western Mosul and we are of course extremely concerned about their welfare," he said, noting that an estimated 750,000 civilians live there.

Saltmarsh said most of those already displaced from Mosul, 83%, are living in camps and emergency sites.

The UNHCR currently has seven camps completed and two under construction, and is at the moment able to provide shelter to around 66,000 people.

Saltmarsh said the agency aimed to nearly double the accommodation available in the near term, but was waiting for land to be allocated.

By the end of March, the UNHCR hopes to be able to house 246,930 people in camps and emergency sites, he said.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi army, police and Counter-Terrorism Service forces have started taking new positions on six fronts around west Mosul in preparation for the battle, Ninawa operations commander Nejim Eddin Karim al-Jubury told Diyaruna.

"The international coalition is also providing aerial coverage to our forces," he said, adding that Friday shelling of ISIL positions on the frontlines has inflicted heavy losses on the group.