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British aid plane takes off for Iraq British aid plane takes off for Iraq
(35 minutes later)
A cargo plane has left RAF Brize Norton carrying British humanitarian aid to Iraq, the BBC understands.A cargo plane has left RAF Brize Norton carrying British humanitarian aid to Iraq, the BBC understands.
The aid drops are part of an £8m package of aid announced by the UK government.The aid drops are part of an £8m package of aid announced by the UK government.
Members of the Yazidi community trapped on a mountainside in northern Iraq will be among those to receive assistance.Members of the Yazidi community trapped on a mountainside in northern Iraq will be among those to receive assistance.
It comes as the government's emergency Cobra committee prepares to meet to discuss the response to the conflict in Iraq.It comes as the government's emergency Cobra committee prepares to meet to discuss the response to the conflict in Iraq.
'Brutal persecution''Brutal persecution'
The BBC understands the meeting will be chaired by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. It is understood talks will focus on the humanitarian aid effort announced by the government on Friday.The BBC understands the meeting will be chaired by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. It is understood talks will focus on the humanitarian aid effort announced by the government on Friday.
There is also likely to be a broader discussion about the situation in Iraq.There is also likely to be a broader discussion about the situation in Iraq.
Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed US air strikes against militants from the Islamic State (IS) - a group formerly known as Isis, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria.Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed US air strikes against militants from the Islamic State (IS) - a group formerly known as Isis, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria.
He has ruled out any UK military action.He has ruled out any UK military action.
IS has recently made fresh gains in northern Iraq and is threatening the capital of the Kurdish semi-autonomous region, Irbil.IS has recently made fresh gains in northern Iraq and is threatening the capital of the Kurdish semi-autonomous region, Irbil.
The latest UK aid package brings the country's total support to the humanitarian effort in Iraq to £13m.The latest UK aid package brings the country's total support to the humanitarian effort in Iraq to £13m.
Supplies including drinking water and tents will be dropped from C130 aircraft over the weekend.
Yazidis follow an ancient faith that IS condemns as devil worship.
Thousands of members of the minority have fled into the mountains from the Islamist militants, who are reported by Iraq's human rights ministry to have seized hundreds of Yazidi women.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the world had been "horrified by the brutal persecution of vulnerable minority groups" in Iraq.International Development Secretary Justine Greening said the world had been "horrified by the brutal persecution of vulnerable minority groups" in Iraq.
"Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and we are extremely concerned for their safety," she said."Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes and we are extremely concerned for their safety," she said.
BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said that while Downing Street could not rule out military action indefinitely, the mood was not "gung-ho" ahead of the 2015 general election.BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said that while Downing Street could not rule out military action indefinitely, the mood was not "gung-ho" ahead of the 2015 general election.
The UK's emergency aid package includes:The UK's emergency aid package includes:
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has advised Britons not to travel to those parts of Iraqi Kurdistan affected by fighting and to leave areas close to the conflict.Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has advised Britons not to travel to those parts of Iraqi Kurdistan affected by fighting and to leave areas close to the conflict.