On 08 May an RAF flight delivered Foreign Office-sourced supplies
to the Turks and Caicos Islands including 6 ventilators, blood
and medication to support the Islands’ health care systems during
the coronavirus pandemic. This flight is part of the wider
support being offered by the UK Government to its Overseas
Territories in order to maintain access to essential goods
including food, fuel and medical supplies.
Alongside this, the Royal Navy’s disaster relief specialists on
RFA Argus are preparing for hurricane season by testing their
skills across six of the Overseas Territories. Operating in and
around Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat,
the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos, the crew have been
familiarising themselves with the terrain of each island and
identifying potential landing sites should aid need to be
delivered.
RFA Argus and troops on board have conducted exercises on
Montserrat and Turks and Caicos. The exercises use simulated
scenarios to test the crew’s ability to quickly land personnel,
equipment and stores ashore in the aftermath of a disaster and
deliver life-saving aid to local populations.
Minister for the Armed Forces said:
“The commitment of our Armed Forces to support the Overseas
Territories in times of pandemic or national disaster is
unwavering.
“We will continue to support our partners in the Caribbean,
engaging with both the local communities and authorities as they
prepare for the hurricane season and adapt to the challenges of
the COVID-19 outbreak.”
, Minister for the Overseas Territories said:
“We’ve seen how hurricanes can devastate communities in the
Caribbean and when combined with the coronavirus, that
devastation could lead to even more lives being lost.
“By providing life-saving aid alongside the world-class expertise
of the British military, the UK is making sure British nationals
and others living in the Overseas Territories, are prepared and
supported ahead of the hurricane season.”
The early deployment of a Royal Navy ship ahead of the hurricane
season is vital for the personnel on board to be able to gather
local knowledge of the islands and establish working practices
with local authorities. Crew on board RFA Argus have been
practising how to deliver aid and support local residents if a
hurricane hits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ship carries hurricane-related aid from the Department for
International Development such as water, ration packs, medical
equipment and materials to repair damage and clear blocked roads.
It is staffed by an experienced team of sailors, aviators and
marines equipped to deploy in the wake of a humanitarian
disaster.
Other recent support provided by the Armed Forces to the Overseas
Territories includes:
-
Small security assistance teams have been deployed to both
the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Each
team will reinforce the capacity of local police and support
local authorities
-
A new military co-ordination cell has been formed with our
French and Dutch allies, optimising our support for Overseas
Territories in the Caribbean as they co-ordinate their
response to COVID-19.
-
A small medical team alongside 2 Intensive Treatment Units
have been deployed to the Falkland Islands and the RAF has
also flown in supplies of oxygen and medicine
-
310kg of essential supplies have been delivered to Ascension
Island and St Helena
-
175 personnel have been deployed to Gibraltar, to support the
delivery of food and medicine to residents
The deployment of military capabilities and UK personnel is just
one way the UK Government is supporting the people of the
Overseas Territories. Specialist health professionals from Public
Health England are providing crucial guidance and training on
infectious disease management and we are providing advice on
sourcing medical personnel and equipment.
There are around 270,000 people living in the Overseas
Territories, most of whom are British nationals.
