KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hospitals and emergency responders benefited from more than 7,000 gallons of free fuel provided by Houston-based non-profit Fuel Relief Fund (FRF) to sustain critical operations in Jamaica after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, amid widespread power outages and fuel shortages.

Hospitals served include Black River Hospital, the Black River Field Hospital operated by Samaritan’s Purse, Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, Falmouth Hospital and Cornwall Regional Hospital.

The FRF team on the ground offered free fuel relief because of overwhelming demand across the hardest-hit areas.

FRF mobilised immediately after recognising the scale of the fuel crisis, deploying a five-member team 1— Joe Lee, Ted Honcharik, Sean Wilson, Brendan Lee and Ray Travers — who were on the ground in Montego Bay within days of the hurricane to support relief efforts.

“The nurses and doctors are the heroes of this response,” said FRF team member Joe Lee. “Many of them are working double shifts despite their houses being significantly damaged or living in their vehicles.”

Fuel Relief Fund said the rapid deployment was made possible through partnerships with Airlink, American Airlines, MEDIC Corps, and local Jamaican partners PetroJam Limited, Johnson’s Petroleum and local law enforcement.

“Jamaica is an amazingly beautiful country, and the people have all been so incredible in accommodating us on our mission,” Lee stressed.

FRF noted that fuel is critical after disasters, powering hospital and field clinic generators, supporting water treatment, enabling emergency transport and allowing families to cook, refrigerate food, sanitise drinking water and charge phones to locate loved ones. Without fuel, critical infrastructure shuts down, first responders are hampered and residents are left unable to access care or meet basic needs as recovery continues.

Elon Parkinson, manager, communications at Petrojam, said the company was pleased to support the Fuel Relief Fund by providing local coordination that helped deliver essential fuel to affected citizens, first responders, communities, and hospitals across Jamaica.

“This effort reinforces our position to always maintain a healthy two to three- week’s supply of fuel at all times, therby ensuring that Petrojam is always in the best position to serve Jamaica’s energy needs,” said Parkinson.