UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – The United Nations says Jamaica is still struggling to rebuild, 50 days after Hurricane Melissa’s unprecedented destruction.

On Wednesday, the UN said the Category 5 hurricane ravaged the Caribbean island, “leaving behind an unprecedented trail of destruction.”

Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos, said current estimates place the total damage and loss between US$8 billion and US$15 billion – nearly a quarter of Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP).

He said the hurricane affected more than 626,000 people and claimed 45 lives, “underscoring its profound human toll.”

Despite notable progress in recovery efforts, 90 emergency shelters are still up and running, accommodating nearly 950 people who have yet to return home, Zulu said.

He said entire communities are still fully exposed, with at least 120,000 buildings – most of them in southwestern Jamaica – having lost their roofs.

Hurricane Melissa triggered “prolonged” and “cascading” disruptions to essential services and western parishes were left without electricity for weeks on end, Zulu said.

In addition, he said many children remain out of school due to extensive damage to educational facilities.

Zulu said about 450 schools, nearly two-thirds of all institutions nationwide, have reported significant impacts, including roof loss, structural failure, and other damages.

He said the tourism industry and agricultural production – once the cornerstones of Jamaica’s economy and major sources of employment – have suffered extensive damage, “putting thousands of jobs and livelihoods at risk, adding further strain.”

“This scale of destruction has not only been unprecedented, but it has also really reversed hard-won development gains in a country that was firmly on a positive social and economic trajectory,” Zulu stressed.

Despite these challenges, the United Nations said it continues to work closely with the Government of Jamaica, national institutions, civil society, and international partners, delivering life-saving aid to the most vulnerable communities.

The UN said immediate priorities for recovery include: Restoring health services to safe and fully functional operating levels; supporting the education sector, particularly as schools prepare to reopen; assisting in restoring essential community services for areas still without access; and contribute to the repair and reconstruction of homes, roads, and critical infrastructure.

In addition, the UN said other immediate priorities are: Restoring livelihoods through targeted support to small farmers, fishers, and micro and small enterprises; strengthening the agriculture sector to enhance food production, food security, and rural employment; and supporting the tourism sector as a key employer and source of foreign exchange to safeguard jobs and accelerate recovery.

The UN also said immediate priorities are ensuring recovery efforts are “inclusive, climate-resilient, and risk-informed, enabling Jamaica to rebuild stronger and better than before.”