Oxfam is ready to respond to Hurricane Irma

Oxfam country teams and partner organisations in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba are now preparing to respond to damage from the impact of Hurricane Irma and to support communities likely to be hit the hardest.

The Category 5 hurricane (based on the Saffir-Simpson scale) 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.

In northern Haiti, Oxfam has a team in place in Cap Haitian that is primed to reach the most affected areas immediately after Irma hits. They will determine Oxfam’s initial humanitarian response. Teams in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba have activated their contingency plans and are coordinating response efforts with partner organisations and government agencies there.

Oxfam teams are also closely monitoring tropical storm Jose which is developing in the southern Caribbean.

Oxfam has worked in the Caribbean region for over 30 years and has expert teams in place for delivering immediate aid when disaster strikes, including providing safe water and carrying out sanitation and hygiene work for the most vulnerable people. Oxfam responded to last year´s Hurricane Matthew in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba.

ENDS

CONTACT: Oxfam spokespeople in-country are available for interview. For more information or interviews, please contact Alice Dawson, Oxfam Ireland, on +353 (0) 83 198 1869 or at alice.dawson@oxfamireland.org