The United Kingdom continues to step up relief efforts to her overseas territories in the Caribbean after the islands were struck by Hurricane Irma.
British overseas territories including the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands suffered destruction, flooding, and blackouts this week.
£32 million has been earmarked by the government for the relief fund. Named Operation Ruman, nearly 300 military personnel left the United Kingdom on Friday to make their way to the devastated Caribbean islands, according to a press release from the Ministry of Defence.
In this undated photo provided by the Ministry of Defence on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, taken from a Royal Navy helicopter, a RLC Mexeflote approaches Sandy Bay Village beach, in Anguilla loaded with the 2 JCBs, 1 flatbed lorry, fork lift truck, BV 206 multi terrain vehicle, a Land Rover and a mobile generator. French, British and Dutch military authorities rushed aid to a devastated string of Caribbean islands Thursday after Hurricane Irma left at least 11 people dead and thousands homeless as it spun toward Florida for what could be a catastrophic blow this weekend. (Royal Navy/Ministry of Defence via AP)
This Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 photo shows a damaged vehicle flipped on its side in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. Irma scraped Cuba’s northern coast Friday on a course toward Florida, leaving in its wake a ravaged string of Caribbean resort islands strewn with splintered lumber, corrugated metal and broken concrete. (Jalon Manson Shortte via AP)
This photo provided on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, shows storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Virgin Gorda’s Gun Creek in the British Virgin Islands. (Caribbean Buzz Helicopters via AP)
Departing from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, a C17, Voyager, and A400M aircraft carried over 200 Royal Marines, engineers, 40 Commando Royal Marines, and 3 Commando Brigade.
The aircraft landed in Barbados which the joint UK task force will used as a hub for distributing aid.
On Saturday, another C17 left Brize Norton carrying a Puma helicopter. Another Puma will be sent to the Caribbean Sunday.
A C-17 Globemaster, ZZ174, being readied earlier this morning to receive cargo, destined for Barbados, as part of the UK Government Task Group deployment, which has been mounted to help those affected by Hurricane Irma. (Credit: Ministry of Defence)
An officer from RFA Mounts Bay (MnTS Ops Officer), and a member of the RLC conducting a reconnaissance of the exit from the beach ahead of landing personnel, stores and vehicles, in Anguilla. string of Caribbean islands Thursday after Hurricane Irma left at least 11 people dead and thousands homeless as it spun toward Florida for what could be a catastrophic blow this weekend. (Royal Navy/MOD via AP)
This Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 photo shows boats washed ashore in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. (Jalon Manson Shortte via AP)
RFA (Royal Fleet Auxilliary) Mounts Bay, with 40 Royal Marines on board, has already reached the British Virgin Islands and on Thursday was assisting in Anguilla.
HMS Ocean has been diverted from her mission in the Mediterranean, but will not reach the islands for two weeks.
A Wildcat Helicopter embarked on reconnaissance flights and her crew will help with structural repairs and restabilising communication.
This photo provided on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, shows storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Virgin Gorda’s Leverick Bay in the British Virgin Islands. (Caribbean Buzz Helicopters via AP)
An officer from RFA Mounts Bay (MnTS Ops Officer), right, talks with a member of the Anguilla disaster relief organisation, on the beach, in Anguilla. (Royal Navy/MOD via AP)
This photo provided on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, shows storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Virgin Gorda’s Saba Rock in the British Virgin Islands. (Caribbean Buzz Helicopters via AP)
The 16 Royal Engineer Commandos, deployed from Mounts Bay, are also providing key support to the British Virgin Islands.
Aid has also been supplied by the Department for International Development’s disaster response centre at Kemble Airfield in Gloucestershire, including 10,000 aid buckets and 5,000 solar lanterns.
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