UNITED NATIONS, Muharram 08, 1437, October 21, 2015, SPA -- The United Nations said Wednesday that the humanitarian situation in Iraq is deteriorating and growing more complex as conflict protracts, coping capacities diminish, and funding falls short. According to a U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report, the number of Iraqis requiring humanitarian assistance has grown to more than 8.6 million people, including over 3.2 million who have fled their homes since January 2014. The report said that insecurity and military operations continue as the Iraqi security forces and its allies continue military operations against the ISIS. Amidst unverified reports of an escalation, there have been reports of civilians seeking to leave Ramadi and Falluja, but access to safety for civilians in conflict areas remains a concern, the statement said. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that cholera is spreading across the country with more than 1,600 confirmed cases and two deaths one month after the outbreak was first declared. Broken water supply systems and the lack of sufficient chlorine in the country to provide clean water are the main causes of the outbreak, the agency said. --SPA 19:03 LOCAL TIME 16:03 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w