Dominica prime minister to address United Nations

Last updated: September 23, 2017 at 11:46 am

The Prime Minister of Dominica is due to speak at the United Nations in New York City this morning, days after a category five hurricane ripped through the Caribbean island.

Roosevelt Skerrit, who on Thursday his first emotional interview since the tragedy, said he would take the opportunity to "speak to the international community [and] have meetings with the UN Secretary-General to outline Dominica’s situation and how we believe the international community can assist us."

He is expected to address the UN General Assembly at around 11.15am EDT.

At least 15 people have died and more than 20 are missing following the direct hit by Maria.

Communication was lost with the island for more than 36 hours are the storm made landfall, and at least 90% of the buildings on the island have been damaged or destroyed.

The prime minister shed tears when describing the "brutal" effects of the hurricane, and stressed that Dominica “is going to need all the help the world has to offer”.

The country’s main hospital has had to operate without any generator due to flooding and the situation was labelled as “worse than in a war zone” by Skerrit.