UK task force to counter ‘slow’ relief efforts
HUNDREDS of troops, two helicopters and a warship were last night being readied to head to the Caribbean after storm-ravaged British territories complained they had been abandoned in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
Royal Marines and engineers will fly to the affected islands as soon as an undamaged airfield can be found and could leave as early as later today.
Puma helicopters will also be transported to the area and HMS Ocean will set sail from the Mediterranean to join RFA Mounts Bay, which is already in the Caribbean.
The announcement of the military task force came after the Government was criticised for not doing enough to aid British territories hit by their worst storm in decades. The response was described as “pathetic” compared with French efforts to help its territories.
Dorothea Hodge, a former UK EU representative for Anguilla’s government – which has made a formal request for British help – said Britain’s response had been “disgraceful”. She said: “Anguillans are all British nationals, as British as the Falklands or Gibraltar.”
Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing and Southall, said Britain had been “slow and late” compared to France’s efforts.
Announcing the military task force, Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said: “These are our people who are affected and we are going to do everything we can to get help to them following the destruction Hurricane Irma has caused.” He added: “In the face of such devastation, I have authorised the deployment of a task group to the region. Over the next 24 hours, troops and engineers held at high readiness in the UK will deploy with helicopters to support the relief effort. I am also sending a command headquarters to coordinate our efforts.”
RFA Mounts Bay was last night anchored off Anguilla, using its helicopter to survey the island. Marines and engineers with earth-moving equipment are expected to deploy to Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, which was also badly hit. Another British territory, the Turks and Caicos Islands, is also in the path of the storm.