KINGSTON, Jamaica— The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, on Friday donated 30 2,850 gallon water storage tanks to the Rural Water Supply Limited (RWSL), strengthening emergency response and long term water resilience in Jamaica.

Valued at approximately $10.5 million, the donation is a direct response to the urgent need for reliable water storage following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which severely disrupted access to potable water in rural and vulnerable communities across the island.

The tanks will be integrated into rural water supply systems and community catchment areas, including the Maybole Water Facility in St Elizabeth, Lapland Water Facility in St James, and Mother Fleure Water Facility in Manchester. Additional units will be deployed to newly established community water storage centers in the parishes of Manchester and Hanover.

Speaking at the official handing-over ceremony, Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Wayne Robertson, welcomed the donation and underscored the importance of building lasting resilience.

“These tanks represent much more than just storage capacity. They embody hope, resilience, and a firm commitment to ensuring safe and reliable water for communities affected by Hurricane Melissa but also strengthen Jamaica’s long-term resilience against drought and climate-related emergencies”, he said.

Robertson also underscored the Government’s broader investment in water resilience, noting that the ministry is investing approximately $15 billion in the water sector this year alone to address long- standing infrastructure issues. He highlighted major projects including the Western Water Resilience Improvement Project and the Rio Cobre Water Treatment Plant, which will together transform water security across the island.

The UN lead agency for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), UNICEF’s intervention aligns with its mandate to protect children and families by guaranteeing access to essential services during humanitarian shocks.

Country Representative for UNICEF Jamaica, Mohammad Mohiuddin, emphasised that “access to safe water is not simply a basic necessity but a fundamental right” and highlighted the organisation’s commitment to sustainable community recovery and the broader impact of the response effort.

“This is more than a handover of equipment; it is an investment in the dignity, resilience, and security of families and children who continue to recover from Hurricane Melissa. By strengthening water storage and distribution systems across western Jamaica, these tanks will help ensure that affected communities have reliable access to safe water when they need it most”, Mohiuddin noted.

The newly donated tanks will immediately enhance water storage capacity, reduce household vulnerability to supply disruptions, and strengthen local emergency preparedness across the targeted parishes.