Hurricane Melissa: $23m IFRC emergency appeal for Jamaica, with aid distribution now well underway

(This story is an IFRC press release issued jointly in Kingston, Geneva and Panama City yesterday.)

By the IFRC

The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for 19 million Swiss francs (US$ 23 million) to assist 180,000 people affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica over the next 24 months.

The storm made landfall in south-western Jamaica, near New Hope, on 28 October as a Category 5 hurricane – the third-strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

Across Jamaica, nearly 80 per cent of the population is without electricity, and around 6,000 people remain in emergency shelters, many of whom have lost their homes or livelihoods.

IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said yesterday: “Hurricane Melissa has left immense devastation in its wake – the situation is beyond catastrophic. People lost their lives, homes have been destroyed, and critical infrastructure has been damaged.

“We don’t yet know the full extent of the damage, but our teams on the ground are already seeing a massive need for shelter, food, water and health services including blood donation and psychological first aid.”

Over the next two years, money raised through the IFRC emergency appeal will enable humanitarian assistance across ten of the most affected parishes, combining immediate relief with long-term recovery and resilience-building.

Shelter repair and reconstruction, livelihood recovery, and cash or in-kind support will also help families restore stability and safety.

“Our teams have been working for more than a week to prepare for Melissa’s arrival – setting up shelters, pre-positioning relief items near high-risk areas, and helping communities get ready for the storm,” said Yvonne Clarke, Jamaica Red Cross Director General.

“Now it is time to respond and ensure that those most affected have what they need to start rebuilding their lives, while also making sure communities are better prepared for future storms.”

Health and water interventions will ensure access to safe drinking water, hygiene supplies, and medical care for thousands of people. At the same time, mental health and psychosocial support will accompany families and responders coping with loss and trauma.

Rehabilitation of damaged health facilities and clean-up campaigns will help restore essential services and strengthen local capacities to withstand future shocks.

‘Our teams have been working for more than a week to prepare: setting up shelters, positioning relief, helping communities get ready’

As this appeal is launched, humanitarian aid is already on the move. The Jamaica Red Cross has mobilized 400 volunteers and released pre-positioned stocks of blankets, cleaning and hygiene kits, shelter toolkits, and tarpaulins to support the most affected families.

Additional IFRC relief supplies for 2,300 people, including cleaning kits for over 800 households, are ready for deployment, and a 28-ton charter flight from the IFRC humanitarian hub in Panama is ready to depart carrying kitchen sets, blankets, jerrycans, and hygiene supplies for 1,800 families.

Melissa struck just 16 months after Hurricane Beryl, leaving communities with little time to recover from previous losses.

The IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund had already allocated 80,000 Swiss francs before Melissa’s landfall to enable early action, including the pre-positioning of supplies and the preparation of shelters.
This anticipatory approach helped reduce the storm’s humanitarian toll, proving once again that acting early saves lives.

“The strength of this response lies in Jamaica itself – in the deep bond between the Red Cross and the communities it serves,” said Loyce Pace, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas.

“Our appeal is meant to complement local efforts, acknowledging that rebuilding resilience takes a village, especially in times of climate crisis.

“We’ll be here for the long road ahead – supporting life-saving assistance while laying the groundwork for long-term recovery, acting local, and making sure the world doesn’t forget what affected communities need.”

Humanitarian aid is already on the move in Jamaica, where the Red Cross has mobilized 400 volunteers and released pre-positioned stocks of blankets, cleaning and hygiene kits, shelter toolkits, and tarpaulins to support the most affected families. (Photo: Jamaica Red Cross via IFRC)