Hurricane Melissa: UK to provide £2.5m in humanitarian support to Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa: UK to provide £2.5m in humanitarian support to Jamaica

The announcement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) revealed that the UK is providing £2.5m in emergency humanitarian funding to Jamaica in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. This assistance includes relief supplies and the deployment of technical experts to aid in the recovery efforts. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his shock at the scenes of destruction in Jamaica during Prime Minister’s Questions, emphasizing the importance of providing support to those in need.

The emergency funding from the UK will be used to deliver essential supplies such as shelter kits, water filters, and blankets to those affected by the hurricane. Additionally, naval vessel HMS Trent has been positioned in the region to offer further assistance. With a significant number of Britons in Jamaica, the FCDO has urged them to register their presence to receive updates and support during this crisis. A specialized FCDO team has also been dispatched to provide consular help to affected British nationals currently in Miami.

Hurricane Melissa, now a category three storm heading towards the Bahamas, made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast with devastating winds reaching 295km/h (185mph), surpassing the strength of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Despite the widespread destruction and communication challenges, the true extent of the disaster remains unknown. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared Jamaica a “disaster area,” highlighting the significant damage inflicted on homes, hospitals, and businesses across the island. The impact of Melissa has left many parts of Jamaica submerged in water, with widespread power outages and homes destroyed by the powerful winds.

Families in the UK are facing difficulties reaching their loved ones in Jamaica, with communication disruptions hindering their ability to connect. Concerned individuals like Rayanne Walters and Yvonne Williams express their frustrations at the lack of contact with their friends and family. A British visitor, Kyle Holmes, who was in Jamaica for his mother’s wedding, recounts the harrowing experience of weathering the storm in a hotel room with his wife and children. As Jamaica braces for continued thunderstorms and the risk of flash flooding and landslides, the remnants of Hurricane Melissa are projected to impact the UK next week, according to the Met Office

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