UK aid teams have been on the ground in Dominica to assess the
devastation caused by the recent extreme weather in the
Caribbean.
DFID field teams arrived on the island yesterday (20 September)
to carry out a three day assessment of the impact of the Category
5 hurricane.
Initial reports suggest widespread destruction, with 90% of
buildings damaged or destroyed.
Medical supplies, including insulin and aquatabs, funded by DFID
and a medical doctor from the Pan American Health Organisation
also arrived on one of the first ships into Dominica yesterday.
Today a UK team will also travel to Monserrat to assess the
impact of Hurricane Maria. Initial reports suggest the damage to
buildings is not extensive, with the east side of Island being
more affected.
It comes as a Red Cross appeal to help the victims of Hurricanes
Maria and the earlier Hurricane Irma hit over £2million.
The appeal launched a fortnight ago was boosted by DFID’s aid
match scheme doubling all public UK donations.
International Development Secretary said:
This is an unprecedented crisis with two hurricanes of such
brutal force hitting the Caribbean in less than a fortnight.
Our focus now is on making sure the islands affected have the
right supplies in the right places to deal with the aftermath of
the latest hurricane.
The British public has once again shown its overwhelming
generosity in a time of crisis by helping out the victims of
Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
This money will ensure food, water and shelter goes directly to
those who need it most on the worst hit islands.
To date 75 tonnes of DFID aid has arrived or been bought in the
region, including food, water, nearly 3,000 shelter kits, 5,000
solar lanterns and 10,000 buckets.
Another 60 tonnes are on the way on HMS Ocean due to arrive in
the region on Friday.
Work to prepare Anguilla for the impact of Hurricane Maria proved
hugely successful in preventing further damage to infrastructure.
Two tonnes of corrugated iron was provided to bolster hospital
and police stations roofs. Food, tarpaulins, hygiene and shelter
kits provided by DFID are also being distributed on the island by
the Red Cross.
Vital supplies, including food, bottled water and shelters, were
distributed to the Turks and Caicos Islands yesterday via three
RAF flights and DFID field teams are urgently assessing the
damage on the island.
