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Picture shows local residents on Anegada Island receiving shelter packs from a Royal Marine.

Royal Marines, the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Royal Air Force have come together to deliver essential shelters to some of the worst hit areas on the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

A team of Royal Marines, a Royal Navy Medic and shelter packs supplied by DFID were collected from Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport by a Puma helicopter of 33 Squadron, RAF Benson.

Their first destination was Jost Van Dyke Island, an island located off the North West coast of Tortola which was severely affected by Hurricane Irma, where they delivered 40 shelter packs to those in need.

During the aid drop, Royal Navy Medical Assistant (MA) John Bolaitamana took the opportunity to conduct a medical reconnaissance assessment to check the islands medical facilities and supplies as well as attain whether anyone was in need of urgent medical assistance.

After a short flight back to collect more stores from the airport, the team was off again, this time heading North East to the remote island of Anegada, a low lying island with no more than a few metres of elevation above sea level across the entire island.

Communications from the island had been down since Hurricane Irma hit, so it was imperative for the team to make contact with the islanders to assess the situation and understand the needs of the residents.

MA John Bolaitamana said, âIt was vital to visit the islands, not only to establish communications again, but to ensure much needed shelter was delivered.â

While shelter packs were being delivered, MA B Bolaitamana was able to speak with Shirley Vanterpool, Anegada District Officer, to ascertain there were around 300 people still on the island, of which 80 were children, and that there were no sick or injured in need of care, with only 12 people were still in a shelter station.

He continued, âFrom a clinical perspective, it was a relief that there was no one seriously injured and we now also know what medical supplies the islands have, which enables us to tailor our support accordingly.