JERUSALEM, Israel(CMC)—Israel’s leading independent humanitarian organisation has launched an emergency response following the devastation caused by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, the strongest storm ever to make landfall in Jamaica and most powerful in the region.

IsraAID said its initial emergency response team will arrive in Jamaica over the weekend to assist in critical areas including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). The team, made up of emergency response, logistics, and health experts, will include specialists from IsraAID offices in Dominica and Colombia.

“The damage we’re seeing from Hurricane Melissa is devastating, and IsraAID is committed to standing with affected communities at this critical moment,” said Michal Bar, IsraAID’s senior director of emergency operations. “Communities in southwest Jamaica were severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl just last year and are now experiencing destruction on a whole new scale.”

Bar added that IsraAID would work closely with local partners to assess urgent needs and support access to clean water, hygiene supplies, and child protection services.

During and after emergencies, IsraAID partners with communities to rebuild their lives. As of October 2025, IsraAID has responded to more than 100 emergencies, in more than 65 countries.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday in Black River, St Elizabeth, with sustained winds of 185 mph, torrential rain, and a 10-foot storm surge. It tore across the island’s southwestern coast, causing widespread destruction before moving northward and weakening as it left Jamaica’s shores on Wednesday.

Heavy flooding, collapsed homes, and severe infrastructure damage have been reported across Jamaica, with additional impacts felt in Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Landslides and waterborne disease risks remain a major concern as recovery operations begin.

As of Thursday, Hurricane Melissa had weakened to a Category 1 storm and was heading toward Bermuda.