Makhmour's militarization offers few medical facilities

Since Iraqi forces took control of Makhmour from Kurdish Peshmerga in October, the town has effectively become a ghost town and military base.

Medical supplies are strewn about. Doctors and health employees have not returned out of fear for their lives.

Medicine is available, but there are no doctors or hospital staff.

Residents of the Kurdish town have to travel a long and winding road to Erbil city for even basic treatments.

What was a journey of four minutes has now become 40 minutes.

Staff at Erbil's Western Hospital tell the story of a woman who died en route.

“She could have been given first aid before she got here," said one staff member. "But what to do if there is none? It is inevitable it will get worse."

Her family regret they were not able to ease some of her pain and provide her with first aid before getting her to Erbil.

“We die by the time we travel the road," said a relative.  "The patients die. We die. By God they do not have fears.”