COBR meeting on Hurricane Irma, 11 September 2017: Foreign Secretary's statement
Following the latest COBR meeting, Boris Johnson gave an update on government support for the UK Overseas Territories after Hurricane Irma.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:
I鈥檝e just chaired COBR on the continuing crisis in the Caribbean and I want to say to all those who have friends and families and loved ones in the Caribbean and the British Overseas Territories; Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands that have been so badly affected by the recent hurricanes that they remain absolutely uppermost in our thoughts.
We are continuing to send in more police, you鈥檝e already got 700 troops in the area, and we鈥檙e seeing confidence now starting to rise, people getting back to normal and I really congratulate the governors and the governments of those areas and in what they are doing.
But I want you to be in no doubt that we are continuing to work around the clock on all these issues. Any consular problems that you know of please get on to our helpline +44 (0)20 7008 0000. Dial that number we will make sure that you get an answer.
And in the meantime we鈥檙e staffing up on St Maarten where there have been some some consular issues so far but I鈥檓 absolutely confident that those wonderful islands are going to get through this. We are going to help them get back on their feet and the UK is with them for the long term.
To donate to the British Red Cross Hurricane Irma appeal visit: or call 0300 456 4999.
Read more about the government鈥檚 response to Hurricane Irma.