13/12/2016 (Agence Europe) – Nearly 40 tonnes of emergency items have been sent by plane through the EU’s civil protection mechanism and have arrived in Irbil, Iraq, to ease the suffering of civilians, announced the European Commission on Monday 12 December. The delivery included 268 family tents provided by Finland to shelter up to 1,400 people. A further plane carrying tents, blankets and kitchen sets provided by Austria will also arrive on Tuesday, and another batch of tents, blankets, non-food items (hygiene, school and family kits) and medical equipment is being provided by Denmark and Sweden and will arrive on Wednesday 14 December. The transport costs are 85% co-financed by the EU. Generators provided by Germany are due to arrive shortly. ‘The fighting continues to cause enormous suffering among the population in Iraq, especially around and inside Mosul, Hawija and Telafar. These air lifts, filled with urgently needed help, are a tangible expression of European solidarity with the Iraqi people,’ said the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Christos Stylianides. (AN)