![TOPSHOT - Children play football as oil wells, set ablaze by retreating Islamic State (IS) jihadists, burn behind them in the town of Qayyarah, some 70 km south of Mosul on November 20, 2016.
Locals told AFP that they face a range of health issues including breathing difficulties, and sheperds said they could not sell their livestock as the sheep's fleece was blackened by smoke. / AFP / Odd ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/03/GettyImages-624609516.jpg/GettyImages-624609516.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=HehTEa7-)
Ahmed Twaij is currently conducting research in Iraq for a master's degree in global health through the Conflict, Security and Development program at King's College London. He is also a freelance writer, photojournalist and a curator of EverydayIraq, an online photography blog. Follow him on Instagram and on Twitter.
![TOPSHOT - Children play football as oil wells, set ablaze by retreating Islamic State (IS) jihadists, burn behind them in the town of Qayyarah, some 70 km south of Mosul on November 20, 2016.
Locals told AFP that they face a range of health issues including breathing difficulties, and sheperds said they could not sell their livestock as the sheep's fleece was blackened by smoke. / AFP / Odd ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2017/03/GettyImages-624609516.jpg/GettyImages-624609516.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=HehTEa7-)