Iraqi Sheep, Locals, Environment Suffer Islamic State Oil Fires

'Qayyara clearly shows that environmental damage in conflicts is a humanitarian issue, with acute and potentially long term consequences,' said Doug Weir, a manager at the U.K.-based Toxic Remnants of War Project.

Known for their sulphur-rich, heavy crude, the Qayyara area's two main oil fields produced 30,000 barrels per day before the area was taken over by Islamic State, which then itself profited from the wells.

The district's name is derived from the Arabic for tar, qatran.

A few kilometers away, one well of around 20 initially lit by Islamic State - of which half are still burning - spews flames dozens of meters high into the cold Iraqi air. Thick smoke swirls for kilometers around.

Around 100 firefighters and engineers are working to put out the fire in extremely difficult circumstances, though there is no indication as to when their work will be done.

Blackened diggers, trucks and hoses litter charred earth near the flaming wellhead, amid temperatures high enough to burn skin.

'Sometimes the weather changes suddenly and the fire burns the workers and damages the equipment,' said Ayyad Al-Jiburi, the engineer leading the project.

Standing some 20 meters from the flames, smoldering cigarette in hand, he remarks that the ground beneath them could collapse at any moment.

'We're dealing with a natural force... as if preparing Judgement Day and what hell could be like.'