Press release

UK to support Haiti earthquake response with humanitarian assistance and Royal Navy ship

皇冠体育app UK Government announces new support to Haiti, as the country recovers from the recent devastating earthquake.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
UK EMT deployment team

Experts from the UK鈥檚 Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) will be deployed to Haiti this week to assess requirements for medical assistance and identify additional support.

皇冠体育app UK Government has today (Thursday 19 August) announced a package of up to 拢1 million of initial support to Haiti, as the country recovers from the recent devastating earthquake.

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

皇冠体育app Royal Navy ship RFA WAVE KNIGHT will also support the US contribution to the international humanitarian response.

皇冠体育app Wave-class fast fleet tanker 鈥� part of the Royal Navy鈥檚 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) 鈥� will serve as a landing pad for US military helicopters responding to the crisis in Haiti.

Following a request for international assistance from the Haitian Government, the UK will send a team of medical experts and a UK humanitarian expert is deploying from the UN to provide support.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Communities in the Caribbean can rely on the Royal Navy to come to their aid when disaster strikes. 皇冠体育app Royal Navy has a proud history of supporting British Overseas Territories and other partners in the Caribbean during hurricane season. I鈥檓 proud that the UK can now play a part in the US effort to respond to the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Experts from the UK鈥檚 Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT) will be deployed to Haiti this week to assess requirements for medical assistance and identify additional support.

皇冠体育app team of 4 medical experts from the UK, Italy and France specialise in emergency medicine, rehabilitation, and logistics, as well as humanitarian healthcare. 皇冠体育appy are expected to deploy for up to 2 weeks.

UK Minister for the Caribbean Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

It is at times like this that the international community must come together to help those in crisis. 皇冠体育app UK鈥檚 support will add to Haiti鈥檚 efforts to provide emergency disaster relief to those most vulnerable, including access to vital healthcare and sanitation.

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

皇冠体育app UK will also support the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) who will aid the Haiti Civil Protection General Directorate (DGPC) with operations and co-ordination.

Notes to editors

  • is a frontline medical aid charity that provides the doctors and nurses for the UK EMT. is an international disability charity that provides rehabilitation specialists to the UK EMT.
  • 皇冠体育app UNDAC team is part of the international emergency response system for sudden-onset emergencies. It is designed to assist the United Nations and governments of disaster-affected countries in meeting international needs for early and qualified information during the first phase of a sudden-onset emergency, as well as in the coordination of incoming international relief at national level and/or at the site of the emergency.
  • 皇冠体育app Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) has agreed a pay out of approximately $40 million to Haiti. 皇冠体育app UK is a founding donor, and subsidises Haiti鈥檚 subscription as a leading donor to the Caribbean Development Bank.
  • 皇冠体育app UK is a longstanding supporter of the CERF. In 2020, the UK was one of the largest donors to the Fund, providing 拢66m ($88.6m) to support responses to humanitarian need across the globe.
  • 皇冠体育app UK supported the establishment of the Start Fund in 2014 and remains a major contributor to it, committing 拢49.5m from July 2018 until July 2022.
  • 皇冠体育app FCDO has committed a 拢6m UK contribution to the DREF (拢1.5m per year 2020-2023).

On RFA WAVE KNIGHT/ HMS MEDWAY

  • Two British naval ships 鈥� RFA WAVE KNIGHT and HMS MEDWAY 鈥� are currently deployed to the Caribbean to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. MEDWAY provides the Royal Navy鈥檚 persistent presence in the region and has been deployed since January 2020. WAVE KNIGHT arrived in the Caribbean in June 2021 to join MEDWAY in supporting British Overseas Territories and other partner nations throughout the Atlantic hurricane season.
  • RFA WAVE KNIGHT arrived off the west coast of Haiti in the early hours of Wednesday (BST). It will allow US helicopters to refuel as they fly to and from the island, extending their range and time available to support the disaster relief efforts.
  • 皇冠体育app Royal Fleet Auxiliary is the civilian support branch of the Royal Navy, providing vital logistical and operational support to military operations.
  • Photography and footage from RFA WAVE KNIGHT is available at
  • For further updates follow @DefenceHQ/@DefenceHQPress. You can contact the MOD press office on 020 7218 7907.

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Updates to this page

Published 19 August 2021
Last updated 19 August 2021 show all updates
  1. Added translation

  2. First published.