For every £1 given towards the relief effort in the
Caribbean, another £1 will be added through the
Department for International Development’s Aid Match
scheme, up to £3 million.
Donations will support people through the region,
including in the badly hit British Overseas Territories
of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos.
Secretary of State for International Development
says:
Today we are announcing we will double any public
donations which are made to the British Red Cross
appeal through DFID’s Aid Match scheme.
The overwhelming generosity of the UK public in times
of crisis is one of the things that makes Britain truly
great.
This will help get water, food, shelter and power to
those left devastated by Hurricane Irma.
This donation is on top of the £32million already pledged
by the UK government.
Mike Adamson, chief executive, British Red Cross says:
We would like to thank DFID for supporting our
Hurricane Irma appeal, raising urgent funds for those
affected by this devastating disaster. The most
powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic has
left major destruction in its wake. Red Cross teams are
on the ground now supporting people in shelters,
providing first aid and doing whatever they can to
help.
Ms Patel’s pledge came after she visited her department’s
disaster response centre in Kemble, Gloucestershire on
Friday.
While there, she saw vital aid begin its journey to the
disaster zone, including 10,000 UK aid buckets and 5,000
UK solar lanterns. This aid is will reach those in need
in the next few days by the quickest and most effective
route possible.
Ms Patel also pledged on Friday to double the number of
humanitarian experts in the region from four to eight,
who are now working in the field across several islands
to assess need. Further advisors are expected to arrive
in the coming days.
In addition to delivering emergency humanitarian relief,
DFID is working with agencies across the Caribbean to
plan how to rebuild and reconstruct areas damaged by the
hurricane.
To donate to the British Red Cross Hurricane Irma appeal
visit: www.redcross.org.uk/HurricaneIrma or
call 0300 456 4999.
Notes to editors
- UK Aid Match is funded from the International
Development budget. The UK Government has agreed to match
public donations up to £3million.
- Donations must be from people (not businesses) living
in the UK.
- This funding is on top of the £32 million already
announced by the UK Government.
