Oxfam ready to respond to Hurricane Irma

Oxfam ready to respond to Hurricane Irma, tropical storm Jose under watch

Oxfam and its partner organisations in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba are preparing to respond to probable damage from the impact of Hurricane Irma, to help people likely to be hardest hit by the massive storm.

The Category 5 hurricane has just made landfall in the Caribbean with winds up to 185 miles per hour, passing over Barbuda and moving towards the north into Hispaniola Island on Thursday. Oxfam teams are also closely monitoring tropical storm Jose which is developing in the southern Caribbean.

In northern Haiti, Oxfam has a team in place in Cap Haitien that is primed to reach the most affected areas immediately after Irma hits. They will determine Oxfam’s initial humanitarian response.

Oxfam country teams in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba have activated their contingency plans and are coordinating likely response efforts with partner organisations and government agencies there.

Oxfam has worked in the Caribbean region for over 30 years and has expert teams in providing safe water and carrying out sanitation and hygiene work for those people most vulnerable after an emergency strikes. Oxfam responded to last year’s Hurricane Matthew in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba.

Donations to support Oxfam’s emergency responses around the world can be made online at oxfam.org.nz/drf or by calling 0800 600 700.

ENDS

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