Emergency aid? One international link initially filling gap (7)
I believe the answer is:
airlift
'emergency aid?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'one international link initially filling gap' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'a' (a thing is one thing).
'international' becomes 'i' (abbreviation eg in IMF).
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
'filling' indicates putting letters inside.
'gap' becomes 'rift' (rift is a kind of gap).
The first letter of 'link' is 'l'.
'l' placed within 'rift' is 'rlift'.
'a'+'i'+'rlift'='AIRLIFT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for airlift that I've seen before include "Emergency supply by plane" , "emergency procedure" , "means of escape" , "Fly people or goods to places not otherwise accessible" , "Rescue using planes" .)