WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — The United States (US) Government has announced an initial US$11 million in assistance to support relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

According to a US representative, the funds will support immediate assistance to hurricane-affected communities through agencies such as the Red Cross, the UN World Food Programme, Samaritan’s Purse, Project HOPE, and other partners, as well as direct aid to the Government of Jamaica.

“This is the initial lift,” the representative said, noting that the funding includes emergency food supplies for an estimated 40,000 people, the installation of six water treatment systems capable of producing 4,000 litres of safe water per hour, emergency shelter materials, and the establishment of static and mobile medical facilities to restore access to healthcare.

The US government has also deployed two urban search and rescue teams, Fairfax County and Los Angeles County, who are working alongside Jamaican authorities in the field. Joint Task Force Bravo from the US Southern Command is assisting with the airlifting of relief supplies to hard-to-reach areas.

Additionally, pre-positioned supplies coordinated through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Jamaica Red Cross, and the UN World Food Programme have already begun reaching affected communities. These include plastic sheeting, shelter kits, water containers, mattresses, and cleaning supplies.

Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Daryl Vaz, expressed gratitude to the US government for its continued support, noting that in the coming week, there will be significant turnaround, particularly in reaching communities that remain cut off.

Vaz also reported progress in restoring connectivity across the island, stating that Flow had re-established service in Savanna-la-Mar and that Digicel was making headway in reconnecting other areas.

The Minister issued a national appeal for patience and calm as recovery operations continue.

“I know the frustration, I know the anger, I know the anxiety,” Vaz said. “But to do anything that would disrupt the assistance that is needed so badly would only make things worse. I ask you to remain calm.”

(Video: Garfield Robinson)