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RAF planes make second aid drop in northern Iraq RAF planes make second aid drop in northern Iraq
(about 1 hour later)
RAF planes have dropped a second round of aid to refugees trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq.RAF planes have dropped a second round of aid to refugees trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq.
Two consignments were dropped over Mount Sinjar on Monday night, the Department for International Development said.Two consignments were dropped over Mount Sinjar on Monday night, the Department for International Development said.
They come as RAF Tornado jets are being sent for possible use in aid operations, after thousands of people fled from Islamist fighters.They come as RAF Tornado jets are being sent for possible use in aid operations, after thousands of people fled from Islamist fighters.
The government said on Monday the jets would leave within the next 48 hours. The government said on Monday they would leave within the next 48 hours.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond is to chair a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee, on the subject of the Iraq crisis, later on Tuesday.
Supplies dropped overnight included 3,180 reusable water purification containers containing a total of 15,900 litres of clean water, and 816 solar lamps that can also be used to charge mobile phones.Supplies dropped overnight included 3,180 reusable water purification containers containing a total of 15,900 litres of clean water, and 816 solar lamps that can also be used to charge mobile phones.
The first drop took place on Saturday, delivering 1,200 water containers and 240 solar lanterns.The first drop took place on Saturday, delivering 1,200 water containers and 240 solar lanterns.
A further drop planned for Sunday night had to be abandoned because of fears that people could be injured by the cargo.A further drop planned for Sunday night had to be abandoned because of fears that people could be injured by the cargo.
'Deeply worrying''Deeply worrying'
Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, with continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups.Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, with continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups.
Among those reportedly being targeted by fighters are Christians and members of the Yazidi community. Thousands of Yazidi civilians have been trapped in the Sinjar mountains.Among those reportedly being targeted by fighters are Christians and members of the Yazidi community. Thousands of Yazidi civilians have been trapped in the Sinjar mountains.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "The humanitarian situation in Iraq area is deeply worrying. International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "The humanitarian situation in the Iraq area is deeply worrying.
"Isis terrorists continue to contest towns and villages south of Irbil and in the Sinjar area and the Yazidi community face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar."Isis terrorists continue to contest towns and villages south of Irbil and in the Sinjar area and the Yazidi community face appalling conditions, cut off on Mount Sinjar.
"UK aid is already helping the people who desperately need it.""UK aid is already helping the people who desperately need it."
The BBC's world affairs correspondent Rami Ruhayem, in Irbil, said being able to communicate with other people, with the help of the mobile phone chargers, was one of the key benefits of those receiving the aid packages. Two C130 cargo planes were used for the drop.
He told BBC Breakfast: "Anybody who will get their hands on this aid, there will be a big difference for them in terms of the quality of life they're living while they are trapped in the mountains."
He added: "But it's very hard to know exactly how much relief this, or other aid being dropped, will provide and of course the tragedy is still the fact they are trapped in very difficult circumstances."
'Commitment-phobic'
Downing Street has said the government is working closely with Iraqi, Kurdish and international representatives to "mitigate safety concerns" that led to the cancellation of Sunday's delivery.Downing Street has said the government is working closely with Iraqi, Kurdish and international representatives to "mitigate safety concerns" that led to the cancellation of Sunday's delivery.
No 10 said in a statement: "The challenge of getting aid safely to those on the mountain reinforces the need for a long-term solution that gets these people to safety."No 10 said in a statement: "The challenge of getting aid safely to those on the mountain reinforces the need for a long-term solution that gets these people to safety."
The RAF Tornado jets are set to take off from RAF Marham in Norfolk, and could carry out surveillance to assist delivery of aid supplies.The RAF Tornado jets are set to take off from RAF Marham in Norfolk, and could carry out surveillance to assist delivery of aid supplies.
The UK aid contribution for those displaced in Iraq is worth £13m in total and includes:
Meanwhile, a senior retired British general has accused the UK government of being "commitment-phobic" over the crisis, telling The Times that politicians were "terrified of any form of intervention" ahead of next year's general election.Meanwhile, a senior retired British general has accused the UK government of being "commitment-phobic" over the crisis, telling The Times that politicians were "terrified of any form of intervention" ahead of next year's general election.
Sir Richard Shirreff said: "What we have got is this commitment-phobic government that is terrified of being seen to be putting boots on the ground at a time when they are trying to extract from everything."Sir Richard Shirreff said: "What we have got is this commitment-phobic government that is terrified of being seen to be putting boots on the ground at a time when they are trying to extract from everything."
US forces have carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS militants near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.US forces have carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS militants near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The US has also begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas, who are fighting the militants, senior US officials told the Associated Press.The US has also begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas, who are fighting the militants, senior US officials told the Associated Press.
Who are the Yazidis?