A TEACHER has shared the harrowing stories of a mission to the one-time capital of the ISIS’s caliphate.

Mum, Saima Alvi met families ripped apart by war while living under the controlled city of Mosul in Iraq.

The 50-year-old, who teaches religious education at Lostock College, Stretford, spent five days in a party of six delivering desperately needed food and monetary contributions to the war-torn city.

The mother of five made the trip against the wishes of her family, who feared for her safety amid continuing car bomb attacks across the country.

After setting up a Just Giving Page, donations poured in with £28,000 raised through the UK registered charity Human Relief Foundation before she had even set out.

Mosul was the de-facto capital of ISIS’s caliphate for three years and under the terrorist group’s brutal regime thousands of civilians were killed.

Saima, from Altrincham, said: “What initially struck me was the pure destruction. People’s lives and families totally and utterly destroyed in vain”.

“Going to their houses and hearing the stories was an incredibly difficult experience. The effect of listening to the sheer horror was disturbing and profound.

Fears over safety were heightened for Saima and her group after the re-emergence of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi a couple of days before her trip.

She said: “My husband was okay about me going, as he is like me, we are both daring and ambitious personalities. It was my mum and family who were really worried.

“They felt I was being irresponsible because of my own children and that I should not go. However when I saw the pictures of what life was like for the people there, I knew it was my duty to help.

“I was compelled to go as people had been so incredibly generous before I had even left, so I knew that I had a duty to go and there was no way I could cancel. “Whilst I was there I did not really think about my safety. I was too consumed with the harrowing stories of the people who I was there to help and that became my number one priority.

“There were so many stories of heartbreak, so many children orphaned yet conversely so many stories of human bravery triumphing the evil.

“I met a man who smuggled orphans out of the capital away from IS. He risked his life for the children even though he knew the brutality that he would face if he was caught.

"There were many similar stories of horror and courage. People told me they had to eat grass, bury their children in unceremonious hand dug graves as well as deal with injuries that were sustained”

Saima starred in Channel 4 documentary My Week As A Muslim where she hosted care assistant Katie Freeman, who spent a week living and dressing as a Muslim.

Saima is also the Vice Chair of the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester.

Saima was given a round of applause from staff at Lostock College upon her return and has shared stories and photos of her trip to student. They were really curious and interested to learn about the plight of the people of Iraq. I have been really impressed by the maturity of their questions.”

She added: “I was blown away by the round of applause, it took me completely by surprise. Our school is like a wonderful big family and I think some of them were worried about me.