Bill Clinton launches aid effort for storm-hit Caribbean

MIAMI – Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is going to the Caribbean to assess damage from last year’s devastating hurricanes as his foundation launches an effort to help with reconstruction on the hardest hit islands.

Clinton will travel next week to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Dominica. Both places continue to struggle in the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

The foundation says it is organizing the Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery at the invitation of leaders of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominica and the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

A statement announcing the effort Thursday says the foundation will mobilize aid and co-ordinate efforts to rebuild on the islands devastated by the back-to-back September storms.

The Action Network will hold its first meeting in Miami in April.