| answer text |
<p>On 6 September 2017 RAF Brize Norton was notified of the potential requirement
to provide humanitarian relief flights and on 7 September the station was tasked to
prepare those flights.</p><p> </p><p>Having identified and prioritised the relief
stores required and established which runways remained open following Hurricane Irma's
impact, the first aircraft were loaded and dispatched from RAF Brize Norton on 8 September,
reaching the Caribbean that night.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Defence is providing
significant support to the relief efforts in the Caribbean following the devastation
caused by Hurricane Irma. Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) MOUNTS BAY was pre-positioned
in the region and loaded with aid precisely so we could respond to hurricane damage.
So far 60 tonnes of much needed humanitarian aid has been distributed across the region
by air. HMS OCEAN arrived in the British Virgin Islands on Friday 22 September with
a further 60 tonnes of aid and is helping to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster
relief and engineering tasks.</p><p> </p><p>UK military personnel will continue to
provide immediate support after Hurricane Maria has passed. Defence activity will
remain under constant review and we will continue to work with local authorities to
establish what is required.</p>
|
|
