Four weeks after Hurricane Melissa devastated several western Jamaican communities, the United Nations has mobilized an additional US$4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to scale up life-saving relief efforts. The funding will support emergency food aid, safe water distribution, health services, and shelter assistance across the hardest-hit parishes.
UN Resident Coordinator Dennis Zulu announced the allocation during a press briefing at Jamaica House on 26 November, highlighting the UN’s commitment to working alongside the Government of Jamaica and local partners to address urgent needs. “This funding demonstrates global solidarity with Jamaica at a time when needs are immense,” he said.
The CERF support will be implemented by UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the World Food Programme (WFP), in close collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and relevant government agencies.
To date, more than 145,000 Jamaicans have received assistance. WFP, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, has provided food aid to over 34,000 residents in Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and Trelawny. IOM and community partners have distributed over 14,000 tarpaulins to families, including those in isolated communities, while UNICEF, with support from Water Mission International and Global Support Development, has delivered over 740,000 litres of safe drinking water. Health interventions include deploying emergency medical teams, establishing urgent care facilities, and providing mental health and psychosocial services.
The CERF funding will further expand relief efforts. IOM will provide emergency shelter and non-food items to 8,800 of the most vulnerable people, while WFP will offer cash-based food assistance to 10,756 hurricane-affected households. UNICEF will continue water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, reaching more than 220,000 people, and PAHO/WHO will support essential healthcare for 600,000 people, including medical supplies, facility repairs, and psychosocial services.
Mr. Zulu emphasized that the UN’s support extends beyond immediate relief, focusing on early recovery and long-term reconstruction through the combined efforts of 22 UN agencies. “Rebuilding will require sustained effort over years, and the UN will continue to work hand-in-hand with government authorities, development partners, civil society, and affected communities,” he said.
The CERF mechanism is designed to provide rapid, impartial, and targeted assistance during crises, pooling contributions from Member States, the private sector, and individuals to ensure resources are deployed swiftly to save lives in the critical early days of an emergency.
