article_snippet.sent: Anbar's deputy governor, Faleh al-Issawi, described the situation in Ramadi as "catastrophic" and urged the central government to send in reinforcements.
article_snippet.sent: We urge the central government to supply We immediately with troops and weapons in order to help We prevent the Iraqi city of Ramadi from falling into the hands of the IS group," Anbar's deputy governor, Faleh al-Issawi told the Associated Press in a telephone interview.
article_snippet.sent: Since ISIS captured Fallujah over a year ago, Ramadi has been targeting Ramadi.
article_snippet.sent: Shiite paramilitary groups and further Iraqi army reinforcements are expected to arrive in the coming days to try and prevent ISIS from taking Ramadi.
article_snippet.sent: Stephane Dujarric,spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, said access to the Iraqi city of Ramadi was limited but humanitarian workers were trying to verify the reports of fleeing residents.
article_snippet.sent: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who was visiting Washington on Wednesday, did not mention fears surrounding Ramadi.
article_snippet.sent: Instead Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who was visiting Washington on Wednesday praised the 5,000 Sunni tribal fighters who have reportedly enlisted to help defend Ramadi and other strategic towns in Anbar province.
article_snippet.sent: If Ramadi does fall to ISIS, it would be the first major Iraqi city to be taken by the extremist group since militants seized Mosul in June 2014.