VOLUNTEERS from Chilmark-based disaster response charity Team Rubicon UK are helping communities in Haiti hit by Hurricane Matthew. 

Operations manager Dan Cooke, a former fire and rescue Officer from Salisbury, is leading a team of Team Rubicon UK volunteers to help bring aid to people affected in some of the most remote and hard to access areas.

Team Rubicon UK board member Will McNulty landed in Haiti on Thursday to assess the urgent needs of people in the area. 

For the last few days he has been in some of the most affected areas and said: “I’m seeing massive destruction to property and crops. Low lying areas near rivers and streams were exceptionally vulnerable. I’ve seen a dozen washed out roads or bridges.

"Although I haven’t seen any fatalities the property damage alone is staggering. There’s a tremendous need for route clearance and debris management teams in outlying villages.”

The destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew has devastated tens of thousands of homes and it is reported that about 350,000 people are in need of assistance.

Will says there is also a “big concern about all the standing water with Zika, dengue, and malaria present, so there is a big need for water and sanitation support".

Cholera is also a significant fear as there were large outbreaks following the earthquake of 2010.

General Nick Parker, of Team Rubicon UK, said: "Team Rubicon is a disaster relief charity formed by ex-Servicemen and women, started in the US, and which we are now growing in UK. Its national HQ is in Chilmark. 

"This is the first time that the Team Rubicon volunteers from UK have led a deployment to a disaster. 

"The advance team led by Dan Cooke, an ex-Firefighter from Salisbury, and 3 volunteers are already in Port au Prince and fly into Les Cayes today to make detailed assessments, set up the forward base and start helping the victims of this tragedy. 

"Meanwhile we will bring the first wave of volunteers through Chilmark and deploy them to Haiti as soon as possible. 

"We aim to have a strike team of twelve volunteers operating continuously for the next three weeks, they will clear debris, set up shelters, deliver supplies and, as veterans of our great Armed Forces, help in any way they can. 

"If there is the demand for more people we will do our best to deploy them.  Team Rubicon gets right to the heart of a disaster, it needs support from volunteers and donations."

To make a donation to support Team Rubicon Uk's work in Haiti and around the world go to justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/team-rubicon/HurricaneMatthew