📸 In Pictures: Providing support to the Caribbean

The UK Armed Forces are ready to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief to British Overseas Territories this hurricane season

When the call for help comes, the UK Armed Forces stand ready to respond.

Humanitarian crises and natural disasters can strike at any time, leaving devastation for those affected. Examples of this include flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes, with many civilians losing their homes and belongings each year during storm seasons around the world.

Disaster relief operations are conducted as a multi-force approach, with government and non-government organisations from nations around the world working as one to help provide support and assistance to those affected.

Humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts ensure that those who are in need of assistance are provided with the essentials during times of crisis. This includes:

• Medical kits and equipment
• Food
• Water
• Shelter

Humanitarian aid and disaster relief is an important part of the UK Armed Forces’ work in the Caribbean.

The UK Armed Forces maintain a presence in the Caribbean every year to assist with disaster relief operations during the ‘hurricane season’.

Personnel recently took part in Exercise Tradewinds 2021, a two-week long exercise led by the United States which concentrates on the ability of military and law enforcement agencies across the Caribbean to work together.

Following the exercise, support ship RFA Wave Knight and patrol vessel HMS Medway took up post in the region, ready to respond to any natural disasters during the season.

• Preparing for missions in the Caribbean
• Saving lives in the Caribbean

Take a look at humanitarian aid and disaster relief in action in the Caribbean region over the years👇

Merlin Wildcat helicopters play an important role in humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

Ground crew on the flight deck of RFA Argus waiting to load supplies destined for Honduras during humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

RFA Argus has previously provided important humanitarian aid and disaster relief support in the Caribbean region.

Aerial images of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 in Great Abaco, Bahamas, show the reality of humanitarian disasters.

Armed Forces personnel help to distribute essential items following a hurricane that occurred in the Caribbean in 2019.

Helicopters carry out under-slung aid deliveries.

A United States Army CH47 Chinook helicopter lands on the flight deck of RFA ARGUS to refuel. We work closely with our US counterparts on humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

Find out where else the UK Armed Forces are deployed here👇