Humanitarian aid
One Year After Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica Red Cross Reaches Over 91,000 People Amid Ongoing Displacement
A year after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica, the Red Cross has assisted more than 91,000 people, yet thousands remain displaced and in need of ongoing support.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Prolonged Displacement After a Category 5 Storm
When Hurricane Melissa made landfall on 28 October 2025, it swept across Westmoreland parish as a Category 5 storm, touching roughly 1.6 million people—over half of Jamaica’s residents. A year later, most utilities have been restored, yet thousands of families still lack permanent housing, staying with relatives, in temporary transition shelters, or in homes that remain partially damaged. The loss of savings, reduced earnings, and high repair costs have left many households more vulnerable than before the cyclone. In coastal and rural zones, many lost crops, fishing gear and small businesses, deepening economic strain.
Cash and Voucher Programme Sets New Scale
The Jamaica Red Cross, working with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, has provided cash and voucher support to more than 7,161 households, amounting to J$486.1 million (about USD 3 million). This represents the largest cash operation ever undertaken by the Red Cross in Jamaica and across the Americas. Recipients have used the funds for food, school fees, medicines, roof repairs and to restart small enterprises, while local spending also boosts surrounding markets. In the program’s second year, an additional 1,600 rural households are slated to receive monetary aid aimed at restoring farming and fishing livelihoods.
Health, Water Safety and Funding Outlook
Mental‑health and psychosocial services have reached more than 10,100 adults and children, helping them cope with trauma and uncertainty. To improve water safety amid a leptospirosis outbreak that claimed ten lives, the Red Cross distributed jerrycans and lidded buckets with taps to 13,538 households, lowering the risk of dengue fever. During the emergency phase, an IFRC‑run clinic supported 23 health centres and shelters, later transferring equipment to the Western Regional Health Authority. The IFRC Emergency Appeal, launched in October 2025, seeks CHF 19 million to assist 180,000 people over two years and is currently 62.18 % funded, underscoring the need for continued contributions to expand proven interventions.