Royal Navy carries out crucial missions in Honduras following hurricanes Eta and Iota

Millions of people have been displaced and isolated without food and clean water after two devastating hurricanes in Central America

Royal Navy helicopters have flown vital reconnaissance missions over a devastated Honduras as relief operations continue in the wake of hurricanes Eta and Iota.

The Royal Navy recently deployed RFA Argus to the North East coast of the Central American nation to support the United States military in the ongoing disaster relief efforts.

Severe flooding has left many people stranded from their homes, without access to food or clean water.

Severe flooding and landslides following the two catastrophic storms have left millions of Hondurans displaced and isolated without food and clean water.

Argus is being used as a ‘lily pad’ by US Army Chinooks to drop aid supplies ashore, while the embarked air group of three Merlin and one Wildcat helicopters have been conducting crucial information-gathering missions over ravaged areas.

RFA Argus has been assisting with disaster relief efforts in Honduras.

Pilots and aircrew from 845 and 815 Naval Air Squadrons are conducting reconnaissance flights, using their helicopters’ powerful sensors and specialist equipment to collect information.

“RFA Argus and embarked Royal Navy personnel are supporting US helicopters and conducting aerial surveys of hurricane damage.

This allows prioritisation of emergency relief stores to the areas that need it most, usually remote areas that have been cut off by flooding and landslides.”

— Commander Kate Muir, in command of the UK Task Group in the Caribbean

The UK is providing a wide range of support to those affected by the hurricanes in Honduras.

The UK is providing a wide range of support and supplies to help those who have been affected by the hurricane, including 2,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 tool kits, 1,000 cooking sets and 900 cleaning kits for those desperately in need — this will be distributed by the Red Cross to charities working in the region.

“We’ve been asked to provide a refuelling facility for the US heavy-lift helicopters.

The CH47 Chinooks have a huge lift capacity and a long endurance, but they need lots of fuel from us which lets them move around the region and move the much-needed supplies to those areas that are in desperate need.

We are able to provide them this support as they don’t have those facilities in the region themselves.”

— Captain Kevin Rimell, Commanding Officer of RFA Argus

• UK aid and military support sent to Central America in wake of hurricane Eta

By assisting the disaster relief efforts in Honduras, many people affected will be able to get access to essential supplies that they currently do not have.

Along with the array of reconnaissance kit aboard the Merlins and Wildcat, Crisis Response Troop from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines have been using a tool called a Disaster Relief Operation Position Logger, or ‘DROP Logger’, to aid ongoing efforts.

Using a tablet loaded with this software, the personnel from 24 Commando Royal Engineers can quickly map the ground below from an aircraft, identifying areas that are most in need and sharing it seamlessly with those coordinating relief efforts.

Mapping the ground from the air means that those most in need can be located and supported as quickly as possible.

RFA Argus is well equipped to deal with crises with her spacious flight deck and versatile crew of sailors, commandos, air crew and engineers.

The ship has been deployed to the Caribbean since April along with HMS Medway to provide support to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season and carry out counter-narcotics operations.

Patrol vessel HMS Medway is currently forward based in the Caribbean and remains in the region as Argus carries out her tasks in Honduras.

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