KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government of Jamaica on Thursday received a high-level delegation from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia which was dispatched to the island to explore areas where Ethiopia may assist Jamaica’s recovery and relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

The Ethiopian delegation was led by State Minister His Excellency Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye.

The delegation was received at Jamaica House by State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley.

In a post on social media, Fitz-Henley commended Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for seeking to assist Jamaica’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

“It was good to receive and host Ethiopia’s State Minister His Excellency Ambassador Berhanu Tsegaye in a meeting today where we discussed Hurricane Melissa relief and recovery efforts in Jamaica. Jamaica welcomes the decision by prime minister of Ethiopia to send a delegation to Jamaica with a view of assisting our recovery from the impact of Melissa,” Fitz-Henley said.

Fitz-Henley noted that both Jamaica and Ethiopia share rich history, “which includes ancestry and cultural heritage and a strong partnership”.

The state minister commented that he has “no doubt” the partnership between Jamaica and Ethiopia “will become even stronger in the weeks, months and years to come”.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ambassador Rocky Meade, and Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, also participated in the meeting.

Tsegaye is scheduled to tour St Elizabeth and Westmoreland on Thursday to get a first-hand look at the damage caused by Melissa and recovery efforts.