UP to 18,000 vulnerable Jamaicans severely impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl seven weeks ago are to receive cash grants totalling US$210,000 or $33 million to assist with relief efforts, courtesy of the United Kingdom (UK) Government.

The funds, which are being provided through the UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, in partnership with the United Nations (UN) World Food Program (WFP), will target 2,000 families identified through the labour and social security ministry’s ongoing assessment of Beryl-impacted households.

Under the initiative, which will support the labour ministry’s efforts in providing immediate financial assistance to the most affected families, focus will be placed on households with the elderly, children, and persons with disabilities.

Speaking Tuesday at a the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership at the North Street office of the labour ministry, head of the Jamaica Office for the WFP Caribbean Multi-Country office, Dana Sacchetti, said the WFP has been working “hand in glove” with the ministry since the early days of Beryl’s impact in supporting coordinating assessments, “which put a human face on the needs compelled by such an event and help us to understand where to surge our support”.

“Since early July, the WFP team has been working at full stretch to support assessments, to scale up the national cash assistance programme, to provide emergency logistics support and equipment to government and support in re-establishing Internet connectivity in hardest-hit parishes with a keen focus on St Elizabeth,” he said.

Sacchetti pointed out that the cash intervention will prioritise people who suffered greatest levels of damage to their homes, and that assistance will be tailored to the size of a household with US$120 to be provided over two months of payments to a household of between one and two people; US$240 to a household between three and five; and US$340 for households comprised of six people or more.

“Beneficiaries of the programme will soon be notified of their eligibility for assistance via SMS text message from WFP, with cash assistance to be disbursed through Western Union and their national network of more than 230 outlets. WFP is working closely with the Ministry of Labour and Western Union to ensure that support reaches the person and family for whom it is intended,” he said.

The impact of this UK funding, he added, will complement government assistance and provide a meaningful lifeline for those who may not know how they will buy books for the coming school year, how they’re going to go about the arduous task of rebuilding, or where their next meal will come from.

“This is particularly important in a context where our latest food security and livelihood survey revealed that 64 per cent of Jamaicans were either moderately or severely food insecure, with 37 per cent of respondents in Jamaica reporting that they regularly skip meals or eat less than usual. These are sobering statistics when one considers that this data was collected pre-Beryl,” he said, pointing out that WFP has been working for the last several years to strengthen social protection, support national disaster management capacities, and optimise food systems linked to school meals.

In her remarks, British High Commissioner to Jamaica Judith Slater said her Government is pleased to be able to make this contribution towards humanitarian relief for vulnerable citizens to meet their basic needs.

“This signing today is only one other example of what we can achieve with strong collaboration…We’ve done good work already and we’re hoping to do more through this great partnership, and we wish the people of Jamaica the very best in their recovery…and that the recovery from Beryl continues apace,” she said.

Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr said the Government is grateful for this solid partnership with the UK that has provided layers of financial support required to respond to a natural disaster and focus on those who need the support the most.