This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28751958
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| RAF planes make second aid drop in northern Iraq | RAF planes make second aid drop in northern Iraq |
| (35 minutes 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 they 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. | 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. |
| 'Deeply worrying' | 'Deeply worrying' |
| 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. |
| 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 the 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." |
| Two Hercules C-130 cargo planes were used for the drop. | |
| 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: | 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? | Who are the Yazidis? |