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UK could send further ship to overseas territories hit by Hurricane Irma UK could send further ship to overseas territories hit by Hurricane Irma
(about 4 hours later)
The British defence secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, is to discuss the dispatch of a further ship and helicopter to British overseas territories devastated by Hurricane Irma when he convenes a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee on Thursday. The British defence secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, has announced that HMS Ocean is to be deployed to the Caribbean as part of a military task force responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.
The RFA Mounts Bay auxiliary, carrying bulldozers, Royal Marines, water and a helicopter, will reach the region on Thursday, he said, adding that the prime minister, Theresa May, had spoken on the phone with the French president Emmanuel Macron to coordinate their responses. HMS Ocean will supplement the UK’s nascent effort to prepare for the reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged British Overseas Territories of Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. Hurricane Irma is also on course to cause severe damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Several hundred troops from the Royal Marines and Royal Engineers will travel to the region on RAF transporter planes.
The move comes after Dorothea Hodge, a former UK representative to Anguilla, criticised the government’s response to the hurricane as “pathetic” and “disgraceful”. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of Cobra on Thursday, convened as the scale of the destruction on the islands became clear.
HMS Ocean, currently in the Mediterranean and due to be decommissioned in the spring, will take 10 to 14 days to arrive in the region. It will carry at least three helicopters, and will supplement the rescue and reconstruction work already due to start on Thursday, when FRA Mounts Bay auxillary, carrying bulldozers, water, shelters, one helicopter and 40 Royal Marines, arrives in the region.
An MoD spokesman said: “There will be a range of strategic aircraft, helicopters, and the task group will be made up of marines, engineers, medical advisers.
“The numbers and timelines of how many and when are still being worked out.
“We are also working out which airfields are available in the region.”
He added: “The aim is to offer support, hopefully clear the roads and get as much support there ahead of Hurricane Jose which is due in the coming days.”
Hurricane Jose, the successor to Hurricane Irma, is also on course tohit the Caribbean, following a broadly similar path.
Fallon said the prime minister, Theresa May, had spoken on the phone with the French president Emmanuel Macron to coordinate their responses to hurricane Irma.
The move to deploy HMS Ocean comes after Dorothea Hodge, a former UK representative to Anguilla, criticised the government’s response to the hurricane as “pathetic” and “disgraceful”.
Foreign office minister Sir Alan Duncan said Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands had been badly damaged, and he expected the storm to hit the Turks and Caicos Islands – another British overseas territory – on Thursday.Foreign office minister Sir Alan Duncan said Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands had been badly damaged, and he expected the storm to hit the Turks and Caicos Islands – another British overseas territory – on Thursday.
The impact was devastating and appeared to be an unfolding catastrophe, he said, adding: “We have never seen a hurricane on this scale in our lifetime. We will have to make assessments, but knowing this is a whopper.”The impact was devastating and appeared to be an unfolding catastrophe, he said, adding: “We have never seen a hurricane on this scale in our lifetime. We will have to make assessments, but knowing this is a whopper.”
He insisted the government’s RAF auxiliary had been on standby to help the islands affected by Hurricane Irma.He insisted the government’s RAF auxiliary had been on standby to help the islands affected by Hurricane Irma.
He said there would have to be a “massive and comprehensive” response across the affected areas, but said the UK relief effort would initially be focused on its overseas territories.He said there would have to be a “massive and comprehensive” response across the affected areas, but said the UK relief effort would initially be focused on its overseas territories.
He said Cobra would discuss the possible dispatch of a second naval ship and a further helicopter.
Hurricane Irma, now the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history, made landfall on the islands of the north-east Caribbean on Wednesday morning, causing major flooding and damage to buildings.Hurricane Irma, now the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history, made landfall on the islands of the north-east Caribbean on Wednesday morning, causing major flooding and damage to buildings.
Earlier on Wednesday, the international development secretary, Priti Patel, announced the deployment of three UK humanitarian experts and a British naval ship to the affected region.Earlier on Wednesday, the international development secretary, Priti Patel, announced the deployment of three UK humanitarian experts and a British naval ship to the affected region.
Hodge told the Guardian: “It’s absolutely disgraceful that it has taken the whole day for Priti Patel to respond to the worst hurricane we have seen in a British territory since the 1920s.”Hodge told the Guardian: “It’s absolutely disgraceful that it has taken the whole day for Priti Patel to respond to the worst hurricane we have seen in a British territory since the 1920s.”
On Thursday, Duncan said £12m of Department for International Development funds was available to provide humanitarian assistance. “We are pulling out all the stops to provide the utmost assistance once we know who is in greatest need,” he said.On Thursday, Duncan said £12m of Department for International Development funds was available to provide humanitarian assistance. “We are pulling out all the stops to provide the utmost assistance once we know who is in greatest need,” he said.
Four DfID hurricane specialists had been flown to the region, and a Foreign Office emergency centre was working full-time to assess the scale of the damage. DfID was ready to charter planes if an evacuation was necessary.Four DfID hurricane specialists had been flown to the region, and a Foreign Office emergency centre was working full-time to assess the scale of the damage. DfID was ready to charter planes if an evacuation was necessary.
Giving his first assessment, Duncan said Anguilla received “the full blast with the impact severe and in places critical”. The British Virgin Islands “had not been spared, with the initial assessment of severe damage and in need of extensive humanitarian assistance”.Giving his first assessment, Duncan said Anguilla received “the full blast with the impact severe and in places critical”. The British Virgin Islands “had not been spared, with the initial assessment of severe damage and in need of extensive humanitarian assistance”.
The impact of the hurricane on Montserrat, by contrast, was not as severe as first thought, he said.The impact of the hurricane on Montserrat, by contrast, was not as severe as first thought, he said.
Duncan said he had spoken to the London representative of the British Virgin Islands, but contact with officials was proving difficult.Duncan said he had spoken to the London representative of the British Virgin Islands, but contact with officials was proving difficult.
Speaking about the effect of Hurricane Irma in Anguilla on Wednesday, Hodge said: “Homes have been destroyed, schools and the only hospital badly damaged, and already one death is being reported, and more is to come as there are two more hurricanes scheduled to hit Anguilla in the next few days. Anguillans are all British nationals, as British as the Falklands or Gibraltar.Speaking about the effect of Hurricane Irma in Anguilla on Wednesday, Hodge said: “Homes have been destroyed, schools and the only hospital badly damaged, and already one death is being reported, and more is to come as there are two more hurricanes scheduled to hit Anguilla in the next few days. Anguillans are all British nationals, as British as the Falklands or Gibraltar.
“In comparison to the French president who has set up an emergency fund, an emergency hotline and a reconstruction fund, her [Patel’s] response after the storm has passed is absolutely pathetic.”“In comparison to the French president who has set up an emergency fund, an emergency hotline and a reconstruction fund, her [Patel’s] response after the storm has passed is absolutely pathetic.”
The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, spoke with the chief minister of Anguilla on Wednesday evening and said the Foreign Office was in constant contact with British overseas territories.The foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, spoke with the chief minister of Anguilla on Wednesday evening and said the Foreign Office was in constant contact with British overseas territories.
“There are tens of thousands of British people there and clearly we are updating our travel advice the whole time for people who are going there,” Johnson said.“There are tens of thousands of British people there and clearly we are updating our travel advice the whole time for people who are going there,” Johnson said.
Macron has dispatched the country’s overseas territories minister, Annick Girardin, to the region, but Duncan pointed out that the French overseas territories were under the direct control of Paris, while the British overseas territories were independently governed. “We do not govern these islands,” he said.Macron has dispatched the country’s overseas territories minister, Annick Girardin, to the region, but Duncan pointed out that the French overseas territories were under the direct control of Paris, while the British overseas territories were independently governed. “We do not govern these islands,” he said.