“I have lost my family, my family are pieces in the street, just take my children.”

Those were Abid’s first words to Iraqi soldiers as he fell across their frontline holding his injured son and daughter, having been shot five times as the family attempted to flee Mosul.

He survived the horrific ordeal but his wife and 11-year-old son died before his eyes as an Isis car bomb exploded in the street they were running down.

“When the air strikes and shooting started, I took shelter between the wall and the cars, and suddenly there was an explosion,” Abid recalls in an interview with Save the Children.

“A car bomb exploded next to my family, and I was a bit ahead of them, so the explosion pushed me forward.

“I looked behind and all I saw was fire and smoke, I passed out for few minutes, then I woke up to the screams of my children.

“I looked at my daughter, she was covered in blood, from head to toe, her clothes were torn off, my son was the same, it was horrifying.

“I looked back to discover my wife cut into two pieces, and my elder son’s belly was open, his intestines hanging out. My other daughter’s leg was burning and she was lying on the ground.”

Abid, 45, saw his wife and son killed in an explosion as they tried to flee Mosul (Simona Sikimic/Save the Children)

Abid swept up his nine-year-old son, Bashir, and seven-year-old daughter, Yasmina, and started running but got caught in the crossfire between Iraqi forces and Isis.

With three bullet wounds to his legs and two in his back, he ran until he met the army, handing over his children for medical help.

“They came to me but I told them I was dead, so to just take my children,” Abid said.

“I was totally shocked and couldn’t understand what just happened, I thought I lost the rest of my family as I saw them lying on the ground drowning in their blood.

“Then they took us to the hospital, we spent maybe ten days there until I regained consciousness properly.”

The father woke to be told his wife and eldest son were dead, while his daughter had been found but had to have her leg amputated and nine-year-old Bashir was badly injured by shrapnel that hit his face and eyes.

Amina, 13, was injured by an explosion as she fled Mosul with her father Abid and had to have her leg amputated (Simona Sikimic/Save the Children)

Yasmina survived with minor injuries, as did his four-year-old son, Khaled.

The nightmare had started in 2014 when Isis took control of Mosul where Abid owned a small restaurant, using the city’s mosque to declare the formation of the “Islamic State”.

When life in the city became unbearable under a lack of jobs, food and the “constant pressure” exerted by Isis’ brutal interpretation of Sharia law, the family moved to a nearby village.

Life was also terrible as the family “waited for a miracle to happen”. When the offensive to retake Mosul started last year, they thought it had come.

But the relief was short-lived when Abid, his wife and their five young children were rounded up and forced back into Mosul to be used as human shields.

“It was the worst of war, intensive bombing and clashes day and night, the shells were falling like rain, and the air strikes were targeting everything, even the houses,” Abid says.

“It was crazy to try and leave your place because Isis fighters would shoot you if they saw you in the street and the airplanes would target anything that was moving.

“We were literally starving, so I decided that we must find our way out, otherwise I knew we would die here for sure.

“I couldn’t take it any longer – I took my family and started moving out…and I wish I hadn’t.”

In pictures: Mosul offensive Show all 40 1 /40 In pictures: Mosul offensive In pictures: Mosul offensive A doctor carries an Iraqi newborn baby at a hospital in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi girls play at a yard of a school in Mosul, Iraq July 18, 2017alal Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A woman on crutches who is a relative of men accused of being Islamic State militants is seen at a camp in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq July 15, 2017. Picture taken July 15, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A displaced girl, who fled from home carries a doll at Hamam al-Alil camp south of Mosul, Iraq July 13, 2017. Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi federal police members and civilians celebrate in the Old City of Mosul on 9 July 2017 after the government's announcement of the "liberation" of the embattled city. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said he was in "liberated" Mosul to congratulate "the heroic fighters and the Iraqi people on the achievement of the major victory" AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken on 9 July 2017, shows a general view of the destruction in Mosul's Old City. Iraq will announce imminently a final victory in the nearly nine-month offensive to retake Mosul from jihadists, a US general said Saturday, as celebrations broke out among police forces in the city. AFP In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of the Iraqi federal police raise the victory gesture as they ride on a humvee while advancing through the Old City of Mosul on 28 June 2017, as the offensive continues to retake the last district held by Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Smoke billows as Iraqi forces advance through the Old City of Mosul on 26 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district held by the Islamic State (IS) group. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi man wearing the green scarf of the Shi'ite faith kisses an Iraqi Army soldier on safely reaching the Iraqi forces position as Iraqi civilians flee the Old City of west Mosul where heavy fighting continues on 23 June 2017. Iraqi forces continue to encounter stiff resistance with improvised explosive devices, car bombs, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A picture taken from the inside of an Iraqi forces armoured vehicle shows residents walking through a damaged street as troops advance towards Mosul's Old City on 18 June 2017, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group. Military commanders told AFP the assault had begun at dawn after overnight air strikes by the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces. They said the jihadists were putting up fierce resistance. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi Army soldiers advance in a destroyed street after an Iraqi forces airstrike targeted an Islamic State sniper position 17 June 2017 in al-Shifa, the last district of west Mosul under Islamic State control. IS snipers, as well as car and suicide bomb attacks continue to hinder the Iraqi forces efforts to retake the final district. A series of airstrikes by Iraqi helicopter gunships attempted to hit multiple Islamic State sniper positions in al-Shifa. Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier frisks a displaced Iraqi man at a temporary camp in the compound of the closed Nineveh International Hotel in Mosul on 16 June 2017 which was recovered by Iraqi troops from Islamic State group fighters earlier in the year. A screening centre set up in the compound's fairgrounds sees a constant stream of Iraqis fleeing the battle for Mosul, awaiting their turn to be checked by the Iraqi forces who are searching for suspected Islamic State (IS) group members. The small fairground lies at the end of a pontoon bridge across the Tigris recently opened to civilians that is the only physical link between the two banks of the river. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis staying at the al-Khazir camp swim in a river near the camp for internally displaced people, located between Arbil and Mosul on 11 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi government forces drive on a road leading to Tal Afar on 9 June 2017, during ongoing battles to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi policeman carries a poster bearing an image of Mosul's iconic leaning minaret, known as the "Hadba" (Hunchback), on 22 June 2017. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqis stand in line to receive food aid in western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood on 7 June 2017, during ongoing battles as Iraqi forces try to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters. Living conditions in Mosul have again deteriorated since the start of the Iraqi government's offensive on the city in October in which they retook a large part of the west of the city. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced Iraqis carry lightbulbs and sacks as they evacuate from western Mosul's Zanjili neighbourhood as government forces advance in the area during their ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group fighters on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) flashes the victory gesture as he patrols in western Mosul's al-Islah al-Zaraye neighbourhood on 13 May 2017 AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi army soldiers from the 9th armoured division on a truck flash the sign of victory as they drive back from Mosul to the town of Qaraqosh (also known as Hamdaniya) Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Members of Iraqi forces flash the sign of victory on their vehicle as they advance towards Hammam al-Alil area south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi security forces gestures in Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi children, one flashing the sign of victory, greet Iraqi army's soldiers from the 9th armoured division in the area of Ali Rash, adjacent to the eastern Al-Intissar neighbourhood of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Peshmerga forces look at a tunnel used by Islamic State militants near the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, during an operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier takes a photograph with his phone as his comrade stands next to a detained man, whom the Iraqi army soldiers accused of being an Islamic State fighter, who was fleeing with his family in the Intisar disrict of eastern Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Iranian Kurdish female members of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan (PAK) hold a position in an area near the town of Bashiqa, some 25 kilometres north east of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families, who fled their homes in Hamam al-Alil, gather on the outskirts of their town Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Displaced people walk past a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi families who were displaced by the ongoing operation by Iraqi forces against jihadists of the Islamic State group to retake the city of Mosul, are seen gathering in an area near Qayyarah In pictures: Mosul offensive A boy who just fled Abu Jarbuah village is seen with his family at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi child eats a pomegranate upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive People who just fled Abu Jarbuah village sit as they eat at a Kurdish Peshmerga position between two front lines near Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive A couple who just fled Abu Jarbuah village are escorted by Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers Reuters In pictures: Mosul offensive Women carry a boy over a wall as civilians flee their houses in the village of Tob Zawa, Iraq AP In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier and a civilian ride a motorbike as smoke rises behind them, on the road between Qayyarah and Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces, wearing a skull mask, waits at a checkpoint for people fleeing the main hub city of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive An Iraqi soldier sits at a checkpoint in an area near Qayyarah Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi men prepare food portions for Iraqi forces deployed in areas south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi forces celebrate upon the arrival of vehicles bringing food to them Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive Iraqi childen smoke cigarettes upon the arrival of Iraqi forces in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty In pictures: Mosul offensive A member of Iraqi forces distributes drinks to children in the village of Umm Mahahir, south of Mosul Getty

Abid waited until he heard the army had advanced to just a few streets away, sneaking his family alongside others out of a house and through the ruined streets.

While attempting to avoid Isis’ notorious booby traps and mines, the families were showered with shrapnel from a nearby air strike. They ran for shelter but seconds later, the car bomb hit.

He, Bashir and Yasmina were evacuated by the Iraqi military to Erbil emergency hospital, later being reunited with Khaled and Amina.

Amina, 13, is now recovering and hopes to one day become a doctor like those who saved her life.

“I want to go back to school,” Amina told aid workers from her hospital bed. “War is bombing, people die in the street…people turn into pieces, this is war, missiles, bombs…this is what happened to us. The war must stop.”

The increasing intensity of civilian casualties in Mosul caused Iraqi forces to temporarily pause their advance earlier this year.

Amina (centre) with her brother and sister after the operation (Simona Sikimic/Save the Children)

The Old City is densely populated – Save the Children says overcrowded residential areas are being hit by US-led coalition air strikes, artillery, rockets, mortars and makeshift explosives and that an estimated 90 per cent of those killed or injured in residential areas are civilians, with children being the most likely to die.

“Bombing densely populated civilian areas in Mosul and destroying its infrastructure will make it harder to rebuild the city and restore hope,” says Kevin Watkins, CEO of Save the Children, adding that Iraqi forces and their coalition allies should take “every precaution” to protect civilian lives.

According to the latest figures released by the Iraqi government, more than 400,000 people have been displaced from west Mosul in the past two months alone, bringing the total number of people displaced by the offensive to 700,000, including hundreds of thousands of children.

Many of those who survived are deeply traumatised by the conflict and Isis brutality after witnessing beheadings, shootings and crucifixions and being forced to undergo an extremist education or enter camps training child soldiers.

The Iraqi army initially urged civilians to stay inside their homes during battles, but leaflets dropped on Isis’ last remaining strongholds on Thursday urged them to flee using new exit corridors.

But charities are concerned the call to leave will see them caught in the crossfire, with significant doubts that any route will be “genuinely safe” for the 200,000 people still trapped in Mosul.

The warnings come as the UN says civilians are “increasingly paying the price” as air strikes on Isis escalate in neighbouring Syria and terrorists seek bloody retribution.

Displaced Iraqis flee their homes in west Mosul on 17 May as security forces advance during the ongoing offensive against Isis (AFP/Getty Images) (Getty)

“We fear civilians are in an increasingly dangerous situation as the air strikes and ground conflict intensify, possibly resulting in many more casualties, as well as retaliatory assaults by Isis against densely populated civilian areas,” says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad.

“There is little doubt that Isis continues constantly to kill and endanger civilians, committing war crimes without any compunction whatsoever.

“However, it is also far from clear that the fundamental principles of international law are being properly adhered to by all the various air forces engaged in the fight against Isis.”

There was news of more deaths on Friday, as at least 35 people were reportedly killed when bombing destroyed a market and a four-storey building in the Isis-held town of Mayadeen.

US Central Command has also confirmed the deaths of more than 100 civilians, including children, in an air strike on the al-Jadida district of Mosul in March.

They were sheltering in buildings targeted because of the presence of Isis snipers on the roof, bombed on the instruction of Iraqi forces who were apparently unaware of the families inside.

Investigators said a single guided bomb hit the top floor but “ignited a large amount of explosive material” placed inside by Isis fighters, destroying the building.

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“Catastrophic” rates of civilian casualties caused the Mosul offensive to be temporarily paused following the incident, which has been contested by local residents claiming there were no additional explosives inside the building.

The bombing is the largest single instance of civilian deaths confirmed by the coalition in the nearly three-year-long campaign against Isis, and brought the total number of civilians confirmed killed by the Pentagon to 457.