Germany's armed forces have started sending aid to northern Iraq, where thousands of people have fled Islamic State (IS) militants.
The first German plane carrying medicines, food, blankets, and other humanitarian aid set off on August 15 for Irbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.
More aid flights are planned for the day.
Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said the army was considering sending equipment such as protective helmets and vests.
In an interview published on August 15 in the "Luebecker Nachrichten" daily, Chancellor Angel Merkel said Germany does not rule out arms supplies to Iraq.
Her comments come as the U.S. military carried out more air strikes in northern Iraq against IS militants, who control large parts of northern Iraq.
