Charity sending rescue teams and aid to Caribbean

ShelterBox said having a team in Jamaica would make it easier to understand the scale of the damage

A Cornwall-based charity is sending emergency response teams to the Caribbean to help those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

ShelterBox said having a team in Jamaica would make it easier to understand the scale of the damage and co-ordinate with its humanitarian partners.

The charity said it had launched a fundraising appeal to support those affected.

It said it had emergency shelters, including tents and tarpaulins, blankets, water carriers, mosquito nets and solar lights stored in Barbados and Panama which were sufficient to support up to 10,000 people.

The charity said before the hurricane season it had opened a new aid hub in Barbados to be more prepared for emergencies in the Caribbean.

It said the supplies had been stored following last year's Hurricane Beryl, when it supported thousands in Grenada with shelter and essential items.

Communication networks were widely affected which made it harder to understand the true scale of the damage and co-ordinate a response, it said.

The true extent of Hurricane Melissa is still being revealed in Jamaica.

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the island a "disaster area" late Tuesday, warning of "devastating impacts" and "significant damage" to hospitals, homes and businesses.