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RAF Chinook helicopters stood down by Department of Agriculture Air support withdrawn in Northern Ireland relief operation
(35 minutes later)
RAF Chinook helicopters which had been drafted in to help with food drops have been stood down by the Department of Agriculture. All air support has now been withdrawn from the relief operation to animals stranded in the snow in Northern Ireland.
The Ministry of Defence told the BBC the helicopter would no longer be making drops but is still on standby if required. RAF Chinook and Irish Air Corps helicopters had been dropping emergency food supplies to farms in high-ground areas of counties Antrim and Down.
The helicopter travelled from its base in Hampshire on Tuesday. The Department of Agriculture said it was now re-directing resources to the ground.
DUP Agriculture spokesman Paul Frew has criticised Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill for her decision to stop using the helicopters. DUP MLA Paul Frew has said it is too soon to end aerial support.
The helicopter made food drops to thousands of animals stranded, mostly in the Glens of Antrim, which has been one of the areas worst affected by the snow. "This has always been about speed and the helicopters and the Chinooks would be able to speedily get to those farmers and those livestock far quicker than any snow plough or track machine," he said.
"This decision by the Department of Agriculture minister will cost farmers more livestock."
The helicopters made food drops to thousands of animals stranded, mostly in the Glens of Antrim, which has been one of the areas worst affected by the snow.
A member of staff from the Department of Agriculture travelled with the Chinook crew to tell them exactly where to drop the feed.A member of staff from the Department of Agriculture travelled with the Chinook crew to tell them exactly where to drop the feed.
Paul Frew MLA said: "This decision is one that ranks of stupidity and is only being made to satisfy republican ideology and to protect Sinn Fein's green clouded myth, that they sell their electorate, that somehow they are not part of the UK . In a statement, the Department of Agriculture said it had "worked tirelessly" to assist many farmers who had experienced difficulties due to the severe weather, over the past week.
"She has betrayed the very people she is supposed to protect and represent , the farming community, at a time when they needed the department the most. "We have assessed the situation on a continuing basis and air support has been stood down for today," they added.
"How dare they withdraw much needed air support when we are still in the grip of this crisis, when so many are still stranded, when so many are still in despair trying to locate their livestock or more importantly trying to feed the livestock that is still alive. "Given that road access has been dealt with we are now redirecting our resources from aerial support to ground support, and over the next few days we will continue to offer farmers help to move their fodder to inaccessible stock.
"This is a fundamental error of judgement by the DARD Minister and it's very clear she is either ignoring the plight of the farmer or she has misjudged the scale of this crisis."
In a statement the Department of Agriculture said: "Over this week we have worked tirelessly to assist many farmers who have experienced difficulties due to the recent severe weather.
"We have assessed the situation on a continuing basis and air support has been stood down for today. Given that road access has been dealt with we are now redirecting our resources from aerial support to ground support, and over the next few days we will continue to offer farmers help to move their fodder to inaccessible stock.
"Since Monday we have managed a programme of 22 helicopter flights delivering 46 fodder drops in the worst affected areas of County Antrim and County Down."Since Monday we have managed a programme of 22 helicopter flights delivering 46 fodder drops in the worst affected areas of County Antrim and County Down.
"We have complemented the air support programme with a ground programme involving Softrak vehicles, which has assisted a further 45 farmers in moving feed to animals. In addition we know that many farmers have resolved issues themselves.""We have complemented the air support programme with a ground programme involving Softrak vehicles, which has assisted a further 45 farmers in moving feed to animals. In addition we know that many farmers have resolved issues themselves."