OXFORD-BASED charity Oxfam said it remains on standby as a powerful hurricane bringing winds of more than 140 miles per hour heads towards the Caribbean.

Hurricane Matthew has been declared a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

It has already produced heavy rainfall on the Caribbean coasts of Colombia and Venezuela where a tropical storm warning has been issued.

Forecasters expect the hurricane will strengthen as it maintains it’s northern course through the centre of the Caribbean hitting Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba in the next few days.

Oxfam spokesperson Kai Tabacek said: “It does look worrying but it is hard to say if a large-scale response will be necessary at this stage.

“Our teams in Haiti, Cuba and Dominican Republic are not likely to be able to make an initial assessment of the damage until Wednesday when the hurricane should have passed through.”

In March 2015, Oxfam was mobilised to help stricken islanders on the Pacific island of Vanuatu which had been struck by a huge category five cyclone.

The international relief effort from the organisation reached more than 24,000 people in over 60 communities when Cyclone Pam caused widespread destruction on the small island nation.

More than 180,000 people were affected across 22 islands as a result of the massive category five cyclone.

The charity distributed emergency relief items such as clean water, shelter and hygiene kits and delivered essential aid; pumping out contaminated wells, repairing water sources, distributing tools and seeds so crops can be replanted in the wake of the disaster.

Image courtesy of US National Hurricane Centre.

Do you know anyone in the Caribbean who could be affected? Call 01865 425271 or email hsomerville@nqo.com