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UN begins huge aid drop in Iraq
The UN has begun what is says is its largest aid operation for a decade as it attempts to reach more than 500,000 people in northern Iraq.
A jet carrying 100 tonnes of tents and cooking equipment arrived in Irbil, with more flights expected.
There are now more than 1.2 million internally displaced people across Iraq, the UN says.
The aid operation comes amid continuing US air strikes targeting militants from the Islamic State (IS) group.
IS forces have captured large parts of northern Iraq in recent weeks.
The US said it had carried out nearly a dozen strikes since Tuesday. It has now launched over 90 strikes on IS targets.
The strikes have continued despite the beheading of American journalist James Foley, which an IS militant said was in revenge for US action in Iraq.
The US has asked for additional security in Iraq, which could include up to 300 troops, a senior official has said.
'Humanitarian crisis'
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says it hopes to bring in nearly 2,500 tons of supplies to Iraqi Kurdistan in the next ten days.
More aid is due to arrive by truck from Turkey, Jordan and Iran.
An estimated 1.2 million Iraqis have been displaced so far in 2014, according to the UN agency - more than 500,000 from fighting in the Anbar region, and another 600,000 displaced from conflicts around Mosul and more recently Sinjar.
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The UN has begun what is says is its largest aid operation for a decade as it attempts to reach more than 500,000 people in northern Iraq.
A jet carrying 100 tonnes of tents and cooking equipment arrived in Irbil, with more flights expected.
There are now more than 1.2 million internally displaced people across Iraq, the UN says.
The aid operation comes amid continuing US air strikes targeting militants from the Islamic State (IS) group.
IS forces have captured large parts of northern Iraq in recent weeks.
The US said it had carried out nearly a dozen strikes since Tuesday. It has now launched over 90 strikes on IS targets.
The strikes have continued despite the beheading of American journalist James Foley, which an IS militant said was in revenge for US action in Iraq.
The US has asked for additional security in Iraq, which could include up to 300 troops, a senior official has said.
'Humanitarian crisis'
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, says it hopes to bring in nearly 2,500 tons of supplies to Iraqi Kurdistan in the next ten days.
More aid is due to arrive by truck from Turkey, Jordan and Iran.
An estimated 1.2 million Iraqis have been displaced so far in 2014, according to the UN agency - more than 500,000 from fighting in the Anbar region, and another 600,000 displaced from conflicts around Mosul and more recently Sinjar.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
