Dominica to receive £5 million of aid from the UK

Britain will help country in ‘weeks, months and years to come'

Monday, 25th September 2017

Last updated: September 23, 2017 at 12:06 pm

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The hurricane-hit island of Dominica is to receive £5 million (US$6.7 million) in UK aid to help the recovery effort, it has been announced.

The move brings the UK Government's financial support for the Caribbean region ravaged by two tropical storms to £62 million.

Category five Hurricane Maria battered the island of Dominica after making landfall last Monday, leaving almost 100% of buildings damaged and thousands without power. Almost the entire 70,000 population has been affected, with 15 confirmed deaths – although this number is expected to rise.

Britain’s International Development Secretary Priti Patel is touring the area to see the damage caused by Hurricane Maria and Irma.

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Priti Patel.[/caption]

Patel announced the latest wave of British support as she visited the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Ocean, which delivered 60 tonnes of UK aid to the Caribbean on Friday, almost doubling the amount of aid in the region.

"The UK has pledged to give £5 million to the people of Dominica, the island worst hit by Hurricane Maria - on top of the £57 million already promised to the region - to strengthen recovery following these relentless disasters," she said.

She added that the British government would “continue to clear up after this devastation in the weeks, months and years to come."

The pledge of UK aid comes after the prime minister of Dominica formally requested international support to address the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.

It will go directly towards restoring health services and increasing access to healthcare in the most affected areas.

On Saturday Roosevelt Skerrit, the island’s prime minister, made an emotional please to the United Nations General Assembly to tackle climate change – stating that his nation was on the frontline of a war against it.

A fundraising effort – DominiCARElief – organised by Dominica’s high commission in London is underway. More information can be found and donations can be made at www.dominicarelief.org.