Brits want to keep spotlight on hurricane-hit Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl destroyed and damaged homes and vital infrastructure in the Caribbean

People living in the Caribbean are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl three weeks ago.

The tropical storm battered several islands such as Jamaica, St Vincent and Grenada with heavy rain and winds up to 130mph (215km/h).

In Jamaica, according to the UK government, power supplies, communications and water supplies are still disrupted.

It's also warned that there's a risk of contracting diseases from contaminated water as a result of heavy rainfall.

The country is trying to rebuild roads and buildings destroyed by the high winds but that's expected to take some time, particularly in rural areas.

Nearby islands have donated to the relief effort and the UK government said it was making up to £500,000 ($647,000) available to affected areas.

But others are also trying to help.

BBC Newsbeat visited a Hurricane Beryl fundraiser at Moko in Tottenham, north London, to speak to some of them.

Maka Robinson says the event is a way for people in the UK to show solidarity

Maka Robinson is one of the team members at Moko and is helping to run the event.

"You know, having your whole life literally swept away from you must be absolutely devastating," she says.

"I think as a black-owned venue and Afro Caribbean-focused venue, it was important for us to really make the effort to support people that were in need."

Maka says the event was a way for people to show solidarity with people affected by the disaster.

"I'm sure that there are friends, external friends and people we know that have been [affected] by what's happening," she says.

Maka says there's been a huge response to the event, with some people buying tickets even though they couldn't actually make it on the night.

"Sometimes it's nice to just check in and try look around you and understand that there are people out there that need help," she says.

"You can still have the privilege of enjoying yourself while giving back to others even if you're not physically going there yourself."

Moko co-founder Nathanial thinks the situation in the Caribbean has been under-reported

Moko co-founder Nathanial Williams says he and others in the local community have family in the Caribbean.

He's keen to help raise as much as possible but believes events like this one can keep a spotlight on the aftermath of the hurricane.

Nathanial feels it's been under-reported by the media, and thinks events that mix a good time with raising awareness can help.

He mentions Notting Hill Carnival, which grew out of a response to the state of race relations in the UK, as an example of getting people to "focus and centre" around an issue.

"It brings people to a point in which we remember how important it is to be compassionate," he says.

"Especially to the Caribbean community who have contributed so much to music, literature, and art in the UK."

Nathanial hopes the event will also start conversations about the impact of climate change

DJ Toby tells Newsbeat his family is from Guyana, which was "luckily" outside of the hurricane's area of impact.

But he says lots of friends were affected. He's already donated money and clothes and says donating his time to perform a set is "the next best thing I can do".

Like Nathanial, he wants to raise awareness of the situation in the Caribbean, and hopefully start a wider conversation about the impacts of climate change.

He says that countries in the global south are the ones worst-hit by rises in world temperatures but the biggest contributors are western countries.

"They have to deal with the consequences of the climate changing, basically," he says.

"And it's not fair. So it's important to shine light on that."

Everyone Newsbeat speaks to agrees that their other hope for the night is to show friends and loved ones in the Caribbean that they have the support of those in the UK.

Maka says she hopes that the money raised will "really help somebody rebuild their lives".

"And I just hope anyone that hears this knows that we're here, we want to support people in the Caribbean," she says.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.