Theresa May: Government has acted 'swiftly' to help Hurricane Irma victims
2 min read
Theresa May has defended the Government's handling of the response to Hurricane Irma, saying her team has acted "swiftly" to help British overseas territories hit by the storm.
The hurricane has battered islands across the Caribbean, including Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, which has now declared a state of emergency.
The UK has already sent one ship to Anguilla, while another - HMS Ocean - is currently heading to the region.
But the former British representative to the island, Dorothea Hodge, said the Government's response so far has been "absolutely disgraceful".
Ms Hodge compared the Cabinet's action so far with that of French president Emmanuel Macron, with whom Mrs May has discussed how to coordinate relief efforts.
'In comparison to the French president who has set up an emergency fund, an emergency hotline and a reconstruction fund her response after the storm has passed is absolutely pathetic," she told the Guardian.
But the Prime Minister said the Government had taken decisive steps to help victims, and would "look at what is needed" in terms of further support.
"We have taken action, we have moved swiftly. We have people on the ground, £32 million has been released," she said.
"The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Mounts Bay is in position, providing assistance from Royal Marines and Army Engineers and a military task group is on its way on HMS Ocean with several hundred UK troops.
"Of course we will continue to look at what is needed, and we will provide what is necessary. We must not forget that there is a further storm on the way, and that the Turks and Caicos Islands still lie in the path of Hurricane Irma. But that won’t stop us from providing the assistance that is needed, and doing everything we can to help."
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