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Iraqi refugees 'facing genocide' to receive UK airdrop of aid Iraqi refugees 'facing genocide' to receive UK airdrop of aid
(about 1 hour later)
Britain is seeking ways to rescue 40,000 displaced Iraqis trapped in a mountainous region by militant Islamist fighters amid fears of genocide.Britain is seeking ways to rescue 40,000 displaced Iraqis trapped in a mountainous region by militant Islamist fighters amid fears of genocide.
Foreign secretary Philip Hammond said the first British humanitarian relief including drinking water and tents would be dropped "imminently" by RAF aircraft to members of the Yazidi religious minority in the Sinjar mountains in north-western Iraq. The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said the first British humanitarian relief, including drinking water and tents, would be dropped "imminently" by RAF aircraft to members of the Yazidi religious minority in the Sinjar mountains in north-west Iraq.
The US has carried out a second airdrop of food and water on Saturday morning hours after launching fresh air strikes against fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis). The raids have pulled the US back into the Iraqi conflict for the first time since Barack Obama withdrew ground troops in 2011. The US carried out a second airdrop of food and water on Saturday morning, hours after launching fresh air strikes against fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis). The raids have pulled the US back into the Iraqi conflict for the first time since Barack Obama withdrew ground troops in 2011.
But speaking after chairing a meeting of the government's Cobra committee, Hammond said such air drops were only a short-term solution. But speaking after chairing a meeting of the British government's Cobra committee, Hammond said such air drops were only a short-term solution.
"We can expect a continuing drumbeat of airdrop operations working in co-ordination with the US and potentially with others as well," he said. "More widely, we are looking at how to support this group of people and get them off that mountain, how we are going to facilitate their exit from what is a completely unacceptable situation." "We can expect a continuing drumbeat of airdrop operations working in coordination with the US and potentially with others as well," he said. "More widely, we are looking at how to support this group of people and get them off that mountain, how we are going to facilitate their exit from what is a completely unacceptable situation."
Britain has ruled out military intervention at this stage. The foreign secretary said the government was deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis and the "extraordinary cruelty" shown by Isis in areas it has seized control of in northern Iraq. But he added that it was for a new Iraqi government to lead the fight against Isis, which has declared a new caliphate in the area of Iraq it controls.Britain has ruled out military intervention at this stage. The foreign secretary said the government was deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis and the "extraordinary cruelty" shown by Isis in areas it has seized control of in northern Iraq. But he added that it was for a new Iraqi government to lead the fight against Isis, which has declared a new caliphate in the area of Iraq it controls.
The British government has pledged £8m in humanitarian aid to Iraq. The first consignment of UK emergency aid has left RAF Brize Norton for Iraq.The British government has pledged £8m in humanitarian aid to Iraq. The first consignment of UK emergency aid has left RAF Brize Norton for Iraq.
Hammond also called on other countries to send aid, which would also send a political message that "the world was horrified" by the events.Hammond also called on other countries to send aid, which would also send a political message that "the world was horrified" by the events.
The chief spokesman for the Pentagon, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said early on Saturday that the air strikes had been followed up by further relief drops. Three planes delivered 72 bundles of supplies for the refugees, including more than 28,000 meals and thousands of litres of water. The chief spokesman for the Pentagon, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said early on Saturday that the air strikes had been followed by further relief drops. Three planes delivered 72 bundles of supplies for the refugees, including more than 28,000 meals and thousands of litres of water.
It has been reported that children among the stranded population, who face slaughter by the encircling jihadists, were beginning to die of thirst on the bare, parched mountainside. Isis has captured hundreds of women from the Yazidi religious minority, according to an Iraqi official, while thousands of other civilians fled in fear. It has been reported that children among the stranded population, who face slaughter by the encircling jihadists, were beginning to die of thirst on the bare and parched mountainside. Isis has captured hundreds of women from the Yazidi religious minority, according to an Iraqi official, while thousands of other civilians fled in fear.
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said the extremists' "campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities, and its grotesque and targeted acts of violence bear all the warning signs and hallmarks of genocide. For anyone who needed a wake-up call, this is it."The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said the extremists' "campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities, and its grotesque and targeted acts of violence bear all the warning signs and hallmarks of genocide. For anyone who needed a wake-up call, this is it."
The US is putting pressure on Iraqi leaders to form a unity government capable of dealing with Isis, which has recently captured further territory in northern Iraq and is threatening the Kurdish capital of Irbil.The US is putting pressure on Iraqi leaders to form a unity government capable of dealing with Isis, which has recently captured further territory in northern Iraq and is threatening the Kurdish capital of Irbil.
US warplanes bombed Isis fighters outside Irbil on Friday, launching a second and third round later in the day. The first strikes were limited to the frontlines around the city to relieve intense pressure on US-backed Kurdish fighters, but the White House signalled it could expand its military commitment.US warplanes bombed Isis fighters outside Irbil on Friday, launching a second and third round later in the day. The first strikes were limited to the frontlines around the city to relieve intense pressure on US-backed Kurdish fighters, but the White House signalled it could expand its military commitment.
However, the Obama administration stressed that sending US combat troops back into the country was not an option.However, the Obama administration stressed that sending US combat troops back into the country was not an option.
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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said it was caring for 4,000 Yazidi refugees who had managed to cross the border into Syria. It said the refugees, mostly women and children, were dehydrated, and had survived for up to six days by hiding in the mountains.The International Rescue Committee (IRC) said it was caring for 4,000 Yazidi refugees who had managed to cross the border into Syria. It said the refugees, mostly women and children, were dehydrated, and had survived for up to six days by hiding in the mountains.
"Everything humanly possible must be done to prevent further tragedy from occurring on Mount Sinjar," said IRC's Iraq director, Suzanna Tkalec. "Whether coming overland or through airdrops, there needs to be a coordinated response to ensure aid reaches the 40,000 people stranded on the mountainside.""Everything humanly possible must be done to prevent further tragedy from occurring on Mount Sinjar," said IRC's Iraq director, Suzanna Tkalec. "Whether coming overland or through airdrops, there needs to be a coordinated response to ensure aid reaches the 40,000 people stranded on the mountainside."