Humanitarian aid photography: Hurricane Irma

Boris Johnson
 Humanitarian aid photography: The Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, flies aboard a Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules to the British Virgin Islands. British Overseas Territories affected by Hurricanes Irma and Jose are being supported by a task force of military specialists from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force. The Armed Forces have deployed a fleet of RAF Air Mobility aircraft, RAF and Royal Navy helicopters and the vessel RFA Mounts Bay to the region to support efforts.
Humanitarian aid photography: UK military passengers board an RAF A400M Atlas transport aircraft in Barbados on 9 September 2017, preparing to deliver UK aid to Caribbean islands stricken by Hurricane Irma.Royal Air Force logisticians from RAF Brize Norton have assisted with the delivery of military personnel and aid cargo to the Caribbean to support disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane IRMA. RAF aircraft - including C-17, A400M and Voyager aircraft - are supporting a joint task force of RAF, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Navy personnel who are supporting the Department for International Development as it delivers aid to stricken Caribbean islands.
C-17 joins RAF and joint task force in Barbados to support disaster relief in Caribbean
 Humanitarian aid photography: UK military personnel prepare to board an RAF C-17 transport aircraft and Voyager passenger aicraft supporting humanitarian aid operations at Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown, Barbados, on 8 September 2017.Royal Air Force logisticians from RAF Brize Norton have assisted with the delivery of military personnel and aid cargo to the Caribbean to support disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane IRMA. RAF aircraft - including C-17, A400M and Voyager aircraft - are supporting a joint task force of RAF, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Navy personnel who are supporting the Department for International Development as it delivers aid to stricken Caribbean islands.
Chris Austin
 Humanitarian aid photography: Chris Austin leads the UK Government's Joint Task Force for hurricane relief in the Caribbean following hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria. Mr Austin leads a team of more than 2,000 military and civilian personnel supporting efforts to get stricken islands back to business.
Irma wreckage
 Humanitarian aid photography: Wrecked vehicles and buildings in Roadtown, the capital of the British Virgin Islands, following Hurricane Irma.
Improvement works
 Humanitarian aid photography: Street scene in Nanny Cay, a marina in the British Virgin Islands, following Hurricane Irma.
Humanitarian aid photography: Aid delivery to Turks & Caicos
 A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130J Hercules aircraft delivers humanitarian aid and disaster relief from the UK Department for International Development (DfID) to Grand Turk, part of the Turks & Caicos Islands, on 20 September 2017. Royal Marines Commandos, British soldiers and personnel from the Royal Bermuda Defence Force helped offload more than five tonnes of aid, as Turks & Caicos prepared for Hurricane Maria.The Canadian Armed Forces are supporting DfID as part of a 1,300-strong military and civilian task force in the Caribbean, following the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
54 Commando Squadron corporal
 Humanitarian aid photography: Corporal Kieron Hopkins of 54 Commando Squadron, 24 Commando Royal Engineers, deployed to the Caribbean in September 2017 to support humanitarian aid work after hurricanes Irma and Jose. Cpl Hopkins was based in Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, where he helped manage a fleet of vehicles to distribute humanitarian aid to people left homeless by the storms. Cpl Evans also worked with local contractors and fellow commando engineers to help re-roof schools so that children could return to their classrooms.
Canadian Herc operations
 Humanitarian aid photography: Captain Kirk Belhumer of 436 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force flies an RCAF CC-130J Hercules transport aircraft on a humanitarian aid mission in the Caribbean on 20 September 2017. The Canadian Armed Forces are supporting the UK's Department for International Development alongside more than 1,300 UK miltiary and civilian staff, delivering humanitarian aid and disaster relief to British Overseas Territories stricken by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Canada has contributed two Hercules and one CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft to the operation, supporting a UK Royal Air Force Air Mobility fleet deployed with 38 Expeditionary Air Wing.
Humanitarian aid photography: Resting crewman
 A Royal Canadian Air Force crewman rests atop cargo on a CC-130J Hercules aircraft on humanitarian aid operations in the Caribbean.
Irma wreckage
 Humanitarian aid photography: Wrecked vehicles and buildings in Roadtown, the capital of the British Virgin Islands, following Hurricane Irma.
A400M storm
 Humanitarian aid photography: A Royal Air Force A400M Atlas air transport aircraft of 70 Squadron (LXX Squadron) stands at Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados, in storms following Hurricane Maria.Royal Air Force personnel remain in the Caribbean to support the Department for International Development with humanitarian operations. The UK's military task force is now preparing to support communities as Hurricane Maria moves through the region. RAF aircraft are pre-positioned in Barbados, which has been affected by high winds and torrential rain, ready to move aid and personnel to where they are needed.
54 Commando Squadron corporal
 Humanitarian aid photography: Lance Corporal Luke Edwards of 54 Commando Squadron, 24 Commando Royal Engineers, deployed to the Caribbean in September 2017 to support humanitarian aid work after hurricanes Irma and Jose. LCpl Edwards was based in Anguilla, where he helped restore electrical power to critical infrastructure - including police stations, a hospital and schools - and helped re-roof schools so that children could return to their classrooms.
Irma wreckage
 Humanitarian aid photography: Wrecked buildings in Roadtown, the capital of the British Virgin Islands, following Hurricane Irma.
RAF flies Foreign Secretary into hurricane-hit Overseas Territories
 Humanitarian aid photography: The UK Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, discusses humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations with Brigadier John Ridge aboard an RAF C-130J Hercules en route to the British Virgin Islands. Brig Ridge is the Operation RUMAN Task Force Commander, responsible for the UK's military contribution to relief efforts in British Overseas Territories following Hurricanes Irma and Jose. The Overseas Territories are being supported by a task force of military specialists from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force. The Forces have deployed a fleet of RAF Air Mobility aircraft, RAF and Royal Navy helicopters and the vessel RFA Mounts Bay to the region to support efforts.
RAF C-130J enables Royal Marines deployment to Turks & Caicos Islands
 Humanitarian aid photography: A Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules delivers Royal Marines to the Turks & Caicos Islands, enabling a humanitarian aid and disaster relief in the territory.On 11 September 2017 a Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft became the first military aircraft to reach the Turks & Caicos Islands to support humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in the British Overseas Territory following Hurricanes Irma and Jose. The C-130J delivered medical staff and more than 20 Royal Marines from C Company, 40 Commando, who will work in support of Her Majesty’s Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
RAF C-130J enables Royal Marines deployment to Turks & Caicos Islands
 Humanitarian aid photography: A Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules approaches the Turks & Caicos Islands to enable a Royal Marines humanitarian aid and disaster relief in the territory.On 11 September 2017 a Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft became the first military aircraft to reach the Turks & Caicos Islands to support humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in the British Overseas Territory following Hurricanes Irma and Jose. The C-130J delivered medical staff and more than 20 Royal Marines from C Company, 40 Commando, who will work in support of Her Majesty’s Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands.**Picture has been edited for operational security.**

Humanitarian aid photography

In 2017 I shot humanitarian aid photography for national and international media in the wake of Hurricane Irma. I deployed to the Caribbean to lead a strategic communications team for the Armed Forces (full story in my blog). While there I worked as a social media coordinator and commissioning editor, working with a multinational team to collect photography, video and stories to illustrate the UK’s work. I also produced reportage photography of UK and Canadian operations, some of which was published by The Times, the Guardian and CNN, Soldier magazine, RAF News, the Department for International Development and Canada’s Department of National Defence.

Testimonial:

“From the outset, Andy ensured that he was ahead of the next story, influencing the whole Task Force’s media strategy. Several crucial releases, social media stories and other media coverage in the early days of the Operation allowed the RAF’s contribution to be given appropriate recognition. Through clever administration, high emotional intelligence, and professional credibility, Andy was able to shape media strategy for the whole Operation. I very much hope to work with him again.”

Gareth Burdett, deployed RAF commander

Date

September 2017

Category
Hurricane Irma, News photography, Photography
Tags
aircraft, military, news, people, photography, photojournalism, raf

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