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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| First UK aid dropped in Iraq for Yazidis who fled IS militants | First UK aid dropped in Iraq for Yazidis who fled IS militants |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A British military aircraft has made the first drop of UK aid in Iraq. | A British military aircraft has made the first drop of UK aid in Iraq. |
| The Ministry of Defence said the plane had carried out its mission overnight. | The Ministry of Defence said the plane had carried out its mission overnight. |
| The focus of the aid effort is on helping thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority, who are trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq after fleeing from Islamist militants. | The focus of the aid effort is on helping thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority, who are trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq after fleeing from Islamist militants. |
| Downing Street said the humanitarian situation in Iraq remained "deeply worrying" and said it planned to step up aid drops in the coming days. | |
| Parallel to the aid effort, US planes have been carrying out air strikes against the militants. | |
| The US military said it had destroyed vehicles and equipment of the Islamic State (IS), which has been attacking Yazidi areas. | The US military said it had destroyed vehicles and equipment of the Islamic State (IS), which has been attacking Yazidi areas. |
| The militant Islamist group, formerly known as Isis or Isil, has seized swathes of territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months and has threatened Iraqi minority groups. | The militant Islamist group, formerly known as Isis or Isil, has seized swathes of territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months and has threatened Iraqi minority groups. |
| 'Appalling conditions' | 'Appalling conditions' |
| Two British C130 cargo planes are delivering the aid to those who have fled from IS's advance. | Two British C130 cargo planes are delivering the aid to those who have fled from IS's advance. |
| Defence officials said one plane had dropped supplies that included reusable water filtration containers, tents and solar lights that doubled as mobile phone chargers. | Defence officials said one plane had dropped supplies that included reusable water filtration containers, tents and solar lights that doubled as mobile phone chargers. |
| International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "The world has been shocked by the plight of the Yazidi community. They face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar after fleeing persecution. | International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "The world has been shocked by the plight of the Yazidi community. They face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar after fleeing persecution. |
| "The UK has acted swiftly to get life-saving help to those affected." | "The UK has acted swiftly to get life-saving help to those affected." |
| The US, France and the UN are also taking part in the international aid effort. | The US, France and the UN are also taking part in the international aid effort. |
| Estimates for the number of people trapped on Mount Sinjar range from 50,000 to 150,000. | Estimates for the number of people trapped on Mount Sinjar range from 50,000 to 150,000. |
| The UK aid contribution for those displaced in Iraq is worth £13m in total. It includes: | The UK aid contribution for those displaced in Iraq is worth £13m in total. It includes: |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said the aid effort is likely to continue "for the foreseeable future" until a way is found to get those sheltering on Mount Sinjar to safety. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said the aid effort is likely to continue "for the foreseeable future" until a way is found to get those sheltering on Mount Sinjar to safety. |
| The government says any long-term solution must involve the formation of a more inclusive Iraqi government, uniting all the country's ethnic and religious groups. | The government says any long-term solution must involve the formation of a more inclusive Iraqi government, uniting all the country's ethnic and religious groups. |
| Who are the Yazidis? | Who are the Yazidis? |