Jamaica’s relief efforts continue after Hurricane Melissa

Vendors and AID workers organized across Jamaica on Saturday to distribute food and water and reach communities still isolated for four days After Hurricane Melissa hit the island.

One of the strongest storms in the Atlantic To make room, Melissa was also accused of at least 19 deaths in Jamaica, 31 in Haiti, and at least one death in the Dominican Republic. Melissa made landfall in southwest Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm with a Wind Speed ​​of 18 mPH.

Health Minister Christopher Tufton noted that the death toll in Jamaica may be higher as many areas are still difficult to reach, but said it would be unwise.

Less than half of the island is connected, and nearly 400 water systems were taken out by the storm.

The US Army sent CH-47 chinook helicopters to Jamaica Friday for disaster and disaster relief efforts, with five more helicopters on the way.

According to Agence-France Presse, Jamaican officials on Saturday also announced plans to set up more field hospitals after many hospitals in western Jamaica were badly hit by the storm.

“That center will be fully equipped, which will include an operating game buffalo and other critical diagnostic equipment, as well as other team members to support the local team, according to AFP, adding that officials expect the Hospital to continue.

There were violent scenes in Montego Bay, as residents scrambled to get food, water and money. Many US tourists still work to go home. The Florida-based Florida Gray Sulature Founday Foundation found a way to find 341 American citizens from two of Montego Bay’s hardest hit stores.

Critical relief supplies are now rolling into Perini-Stricken St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland, most of them were cut from fallen concrete pillars.

But in some parts, people were forced to put buckets in the rivers, collecting muddy water for daily use, while others were drinking coconut water and the disgusting fruit.

In Westmoreland, crumpled metal sheets, cracked house frames and pieces of furniture littered the beach.

Minister of Public Security Charles Charles Jr. he was among several convoys of emergency responders on the way to deliver ready-to-eat food, water, tarpaulins, blankets, medicine and other essentials.

“The most important thing now is to get help to those who need it,” said Charles Jr. During a short stop on the way to Mfuleni i Black shop. Prime Minister Andrew Holness had declared the Black River ground zero and said the city would have to be rebuilt.

The Jamaica Defense Force started a satellite disaster relief center at the Luana Promust Center in the Luana Community Center near the Black River where care packages are being sent to Hurricane-Stresen residents.

Many had been without essential items since Tuesday and quickly gathered in a JDF truck as word spread that relief supplies were being distributed in Langa in Sulendeni this afternoon.

“Everybody’s homeless right now,” Rosemarie Gayle said. “Thank you, thank you. I can’t say thank you enough,” she said, as she accepted a packet of rice, beans, sardines, powdered milk, cooking oil and other essentials.

Melissa it left a ruin in its wakeSeizing electricity and high-rise buildings, disrupting food and water distribution and destroying crop fields.

Satellite images show a southwestern Jamaican city Each pair captures a double-edged city that looks reduced to pollution and debris.

Some people have been walking for miles in search of basic supplies and to check on loved ones, as more than 60% of the island remains without power. Helicopters were dropping food into cut off communities.

“People are in shock and they are waiting for relief,” said the National Director of the World Health Organization, emergency affairs Mike Bassett, who traveled to the city of Santa Cruz in St. Elizabeth on Friday.

“The biggest needs are clean water, tarps for roof damage, organized proteins, cleanliness and cleaning supplies,” he said.

On Saturday, the food program of the United Nations ‘World’ World’ received 2,000 boxes of emergency food aid from Barbados, to be distributed to shelters and the most affected communities in the St Elisabeth Area.

“They will help meet the needs of 6,000 people in one week,” said WFP communications manager Alexis Masciarelli.

Tufton also warned of the danger of rising mosquitoes, waterborne diseases and food poisoning. “Please throw away the looted food,” she said.

A US disaster relief team is on the ground after being briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week, the US ambassador to Jamaica said.

“The United States stands with Jamaica as it responds to the effects of the storm and remains ready to deliver emergency relief supplies quickly,” it said.

Jamaica’s environment minister Matt Matthew Samuda took to social media platform Social Media X in a bid to get Tarpaulin out of time after Melissa tore off the roofs of homes in western Jamaica. X users log in to help, which shows where they’ve seen the goods.

Falmouth, a popular fishing port on Jamaica’s coast, was experiencing major problems including flooding and flooding, Holness said Saturday.

“Our priority is to restore electricity and telecommunications and to ensure that essential services, especially Falmouth Hospital, are stable,” X said, adding that Jamaica will rebuild “stronger and smarter.”

The back then overflowed, and the Caribbean catastrophe insurance said it would pay Jamaica a record of $70.8 million.

This facility allows countries to set their individual risks to provide cost-effective information in the fight against natural disasters. The payment will be made within 14 days, the group said on Friday.

Finance Minister Fayval Williams said on Thursday that the CCRIF insurance policy was one part of the government’s financial plan to respond to natural disasters. He pointed to the Contingencies Fund, the National Natural Reform Reserve and The Case Difform.

State authorities said a Damage Assessment is ongoing.