“Very moved to return to a city [Mosul] that I saw held hostage by Daech [ISIS]. To see her liberated is an emotion. Seeing its destroyed west part is another, sadder. We need international action to help the Iraqis rebuild Mosul,” wrote former French President Francoiss Hollande.

He tweeted after traveling to Northern Iraq and taking part in an award ceremony at in memory and honor of Shifa Gardi called the Shifa Gardi International Award. Shifa Gardi was a Rudaw journalist killed on February 25, 2017 while reporting the war on ISIS near Mosul.

Très ému de revenir dans une ville que j'ai vue retenue en otage par Daech. La voir libérée est une émotion. Voir sa partie ouest détruite en est une autre, plus triste. Il faut une action internationale pour aider les Irakiens à reconstruire Mossoul. https://t.co/nyMpe0DFEp

— François Hollande (@fhollande) February 25, 2019

Jenan Moussa won the award

It's an extra honour for me as a female reporter with Arab background that I receive #ShifaGardiAward from Kurdish tv network in Erbil.

Kurds suffered so much under ISIS. Important to show that ISIS ideology can't destroy Kurdish &Arab coexistence in fight against extremism. pic.twitter.com/OMyvIdWiRk

— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) February 25, 2019

Hollande met Kurdish leader Barzani and also toured other sites, including meeting Christians.

Il y a un peu plus d’un an, Mossoul était aux mains de Daech et de ses assassins. Je suis ému de venir dans une ville aujourd’hui libérée. La moitié de la ville est détruite, mais il y a de l’espoir. L’enjeu maintenant est la stabilisation et la reconstruction. pic.twitter.com/pmrUDfHiQa

— François Hollande (@fhollande) February 25, 2019

“A little over a year ago, Mosul was in the hands of Daech [ISIS] and his assassins. I am moved to come to a city now liberated. Half the city is destroyed, but there is hope. The challenge now is stabilization and reconstruction.”

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Francois Hollande supports Mosul reconstruction