The UK government has announced an increase in support, up to £500,000, for Caribbean countries severely affected by Hurricane Beryl.
This aid, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy on July 5, aims to provide immediate relief to those whose homes and livelihoods have been devastated by the hurricane, the earliest Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic.
The financial support includes 800 emergency shelter kits, capable of supporting up to 4,000 people, which have already been dispatched to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines following the extensive damage last week. Additionally, 1,620 buckets for households to collect and store water have been sent from supplies pre-positioned in the region as part of the UK’s preparedness plans.
The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said: “Our thoughts remain with those who have lost loved ones, their homes or have been left without power. This funding will help support disaster recovery efforts, as part of a swift and coordinated response in the region. That such a storm has developed so early in the season shows that we are facing a climate emergency and must act now.”
Emergency response teams deployed
In response to a request from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the UK has also provided support for the deployment of regional teams to assist national disaster offices with emergency operations, relief and logistics management, telecommunication, security issues, and sectoral assessments.
Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent arrived in the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory, to offer any necessary assistance to communities affected by Beryl. Additionally, two specialist FCDO Rapid Deployment Teams have traveled to the region to provide consular assistance to any affected British nationals, along with a procurement and logistics specialist who will assist with the humanitarian effort.
The UK government said it remains committed to working with Caribbean countries to build resilience to climate change and natural disasters. The UK-Caribbean Infrastructure Fund has invested £350 million in climate-resilient projects across the region, including ports, roads, and water systems.
In its ongoing efforts, the UK has also supported the development of Disaster Risk Finance strategies and invested in insurance initiatives in the Caribbean to enable communities to recover more quickly.
