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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 MoD 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. | |
| '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. | 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. |
| Ms Greening has also announced that four organisations are to share the £3m earmarked by the British government for charities operating in Iraq. | Ms Greening has also announced that four organisations are to share the £3m earmarked by the British government for charities operating in Iraq. |
| Mercy Corps, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger will provide food, water, medical supplies, hygiene kits and sanitation facilities, with the funds being made available immediately. | Mercy Corps, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger will provide food, water, medical supplies, hygiene kits and sanitation facilities, with the funds being made available immediately. |
| 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? |