Through the Mosul Eye blog, Omar explored life under ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in his city. He talks about what drove the people to join ISIS and how the society has now shifted to finding an Iraqi national identity.
Social initiatives for Mosul are on the rise as the city begins the long process of rebuilding, and Omar outlines why the engagement of the youth population is crucial to this.
But support in areas such as industry, agriculture and infrastructure are vital to the effort - both in Mosul and neighbouring Nineveh which lies on the eastern bank of the Tigris.