UK providing additional £5 million in emergency humanitarian funding

The UK Government is mobilising an additional £5 million in emergency humanitarian funding, on top of £2.5 million announced earlier this week, to support Jamaica and the Caribbean region’s recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

The UK says the new funding will enable it to send humanitarian supplies, including over 3,000 shelter kits and over 1,500 solar-powered lanterns to help those whose homes have been damaged and those without power.

“More information is now coming through on the scale of devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, with homes damaged, roads blocked, and lives lost. That is why the UK Government is now increasing our funding for humanitarian support to ensure we can get shelter kits, solar lamps, and sanitation products to those who need it most,” said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

“We will also use some of that funding to match public donations to the Red Cross appeal in support of Jamaica,” she added.

The UK is working with the World Food Programme and Red Cross to ensure emergency relief reaches those who need it most.

“People in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa have a long road ahead to recover and rebuild stronger. This contribution will help the IFRC and the Jamaica Red Cross provide critical support along that journey — from restoring homes and livelihoods to preparing for future hurricanes. We’re deeply grateful for this support, which keeps people’s recovery and resilience at the heart of humanitarian action,” said Regional Director for the Americas of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies(IFRC), Loyce Pace.

UK humanitarian and technical experts have been deployed to the region to assist with the coordination and delivery of aid.

The UK Government had already prepositioned emergency supplies in Antigua & Barbuda to ensure they could be rapidly deployed to where they are needed most.

Some of the funding will be used to match public donations up to £1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appeal in support of Jamaica.

“We know communities across Jamaica are suffering after Hurricane Melissa, with homes and livelihoods destroyed, and loved ones still out of contact. That’s why the UK has stepped up, with a total of £7.5m in humanitarian funding to help those most in need. The £5m announced today will help partners, including the Red Cross and UN WFP, expand and intensify their support to the most vulnerable Jamaicans. 3,000 emergency shelter kits and 1,500 solar-powered lights have already been mobilised, and this new funding means that relief can be expanded across Jamaica. Jamaicans are already rallying to repair damage and rebuild community life. I am pleased that UK funding is supporting those efforts,” said British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Alicia Herbert.

Meanwhile, the UK says it is in close contact with travel companies who are working to restore flights for holidaymakers and British nationals.

Foreign Office teams are preparing flights to support British nationals who are unable to fly home commercially.

The UK says a specialist FCDO Rapid Deployment Team has also arrived in Jamaica to provide consular assistance to affected British nationals.

The UK is working with tour operators, the Jamaican authorities and its international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies, to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered to affected areas and meets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.

The UK has also worked with the Caribbean governments, multilateral banks, and the London Centre for Disaster Protection so Jamaica and Haiti have pre-agreed financial instruments in place to help recover faster and more effectively.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.