All Systems Down

Dominica Uncontactable Following Hurricane Disaster

LONDON, September 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA 

The Commonwealth of Dominica is in a state of emergency in the wake of the category five Hurricane Maria which made landfall on the small island nation overnight.

Prime Minister of Dominica, the Honourable Roosevelt Skeritt, took to Facebook for help in the early hours of the morning:

"We will need help of all kinds…I am eager to solicit the support of friendly nations and organisations with helicopter services…"

Shortly following this message, the Prime Minister became uncontactable, his current whereabouts unknown, and the urgency to mobilise efforts on the ground has increased.  

The Attorney General for Dominica, Mr Levi Peter, who is in the United Kingdom at the moment, in collaboration with the Dominica High Commission, is mobilising emergency support in the United Kingdom, and is urging help from nations, both neighbouring and otherwise:

"We are asking all nations to help us rescue our communities. At the moment so little is known. We are seeking the support of emergency relief organisations, whoever is available to get people on the ground so we can assess the damage. We thank Trinidad and Tobago who are currently mobilising help, but we need the support of our commonwealth brothers and sisters."

As a member country of the Commonwealth, Dominica is especially soliciting assistance from the United Kingdom in the nation's disaster recovery efforts.

The Commonwealth of Dominica is a small island nation located in the Eastern Caribbean. In 2015, the island sustained significant damage from Storm Erika. It is expected that damage to the island will far exceed previous natural disasters.  

Individuals and businesses are being asked to view the website dominiCARElief.org to lend their support, donation or otherwise, and the country is seeking assistance from nations around the world who can assist in recovery efforts.  

More information can be accessed on http://www.dominiCARElief.org

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