With thousands left homeless by recent hurricanes in Caribbean island farming and fishing communities, international donors have pledged more than $2 billion to support rebuilding efforts.

The announcement was made at a New York donor conference held by the United Nations and CARICOM, the Caribbean's largest cooperation group, where countries promised $1.3 billion in aid and more than $1 billion in loans and debt relief.

Hurricane Irma, packing winds of 185 mph (300 kph), ravaged a series of small islands in the northeast Caribbean in early September. It was closely followed by Hurricane Maria.