Royal Navy Ship to Support Haiti Earthquake Response

LONDON — The U.K. Government announced on Aug. 19 a package of up to £1 million of initial support to Haiti, as the country recovers from the recent devastating earthquake, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said in a release. 

The Royal Navy ship RFA Wave Knight will also support the U.S. contribution to the international humanitarian response. The Wave-class fast fleet tanker – part of the Royal Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) – will serve as a landing pad for U.S. military helicopters responding to the crisis in Haiti. 

This is in addition to significant U.K. contributions to the U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund, the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and the Start Fund, which have allocated funding of £5.8 million, £600,000 and £250,000 respectively. 

Following a request for international assistance from the Haitian government, the United Kingdom will send a team of medical experts and a U.K. humanitarian expert to provide support. 

“Communities in the Caribbean can rely on the Royal Navy to come to their aid when disaster strikes,” said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. “The Royal Navy has a proud history of supporting British Overseas Territories and other partners in the Caribbean during hurricane season. I’m proud that the U.K. can now play a part in the U.S. effort to respond to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.” 

Experts from the U.K.’s Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) will be deployed to Haiti this week to assess requirements for medical assistance and identify additional support that the UK could provide to affected communities. 

“It is at times like this that the international community must come together to help those in crisis,” said U.K. Minister for the Caribbean Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon. “The UK’s support will add to Haiti’s efforts to provide emergency disaster relief to those most vulnerable, including access to vital healthcare and sanitation.” 

The team of four medical experts from the United Kingdom, Italy and France specialize in emergency medicine, rehabilitation and logistics, as well as humanitarian health care. They are expected to deploy for up to two weeks. 

On top of this, a U.K. humanitarian expert will arrive in Haiti as part of a U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) mission, to help assess damage and humanitarian needs resulting from the earthquake. 

The United Kingdom will also support the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Agency (CDEMA) who will support the Haiti Civil Protection Department with operations and coordination.