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Iraq aid drops to 'step up', says No 10 Iraq aid drops to 'step up', says No 10
(35 minutes later)
The UK is to "step up" aid supplies and send more "humanitarian advisers" to parts of Iraq under threat from Islamist militants, No 10 has said.The UK is to "step up" aid supplies and send more "humanitarian advisers" to parts of Iraq under threat from Islamist militants, No 10 has said.
A British military aircraft made the first drop of UK aid in Iraq overnight.A British military aircraft made the first drop of UK aid in Iraq overnight.
The bundle included 1,200 reusable water containers and 240 solar lanterns that can also recharge mobile phones.The bundle included 1,200 reusable water containers and 240 solar lanterns that can also recharge mobile phones.
Thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority are still trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq after fleeing from Islamist militants.Thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority are still trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq after fleeing from Islamist militants.
A Downing Street spokesman said the situation was "deeply worrying", but that some of the people who had been trapped on Mount Sinjar "may have escaped off the mountain to the north". A Downing Street spokesman said the situation was "deeply worrying" but that it was possible some of the people who had been trapped on Mount Sinjar might have escaped off the mountain to the north.
Estimates for the number of people trapped on Mount Sinjar range from 50,000 to 150,000.
'Evil terrorists'
Parallel to the UK's aid effort, US planes have been carrying out air strikes against the militants.Parallel to the UK's aid effort, US planes have been carrying out air strikes against the militants.
The US military said it had destroyed vehicles and equipment of Islamic State (IS) fighters, who have been attacking Yazidi areas. The US military said it had destroyed vehicles and equipment of Islamic State (IS) fighters, who had 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.
A Downing Street spokesman said the UK government wanted to increase the number of "humanitarian advisers" in Iraq to provide better links to the situation on the ground. Downing Street said the UK government wanted to increase the number of "humanitarian advisers" in Iraq to provide better links to the situation on the ground.
The spokesman added: "We continue to urge Iraqi political leaders to appoint a prime minister who can lead an inclusive government.
"This is vital to ensure that Iraqis themselves are able to co-ordinate the response across the country against Isis, uniting all Iraqi communities against these evil terrorists."
Despite elections in April, Iraq's political coalition has still not decided who to put forward as its next prime minister.
The US, France and the UN are also taking part in the international aid effort.
The UK aid contribution for those displaced in Iraq is worth £13m in total. It includes:
Two British C130 cargo planes were involved in dropping off the first batch of supplies.
Who are the Yazidis?