Jamaica has received a significant shipment of hurricane relief supplies from several international partners, marking a major boost to national recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The 15-container shipment, totaling more than 150 tonnes of relief materials and equipment, arrived in Kingston aboard the Dutch Navy support ship HNLMS Pelikaan from its base in Curaçao.
The supplies include medical and health items, emergency shelter materials, power and electrical equipment, vehicles, forklifts, communication tools, and water sanitation systems — all aimed at supporting communities hardest hit by the storm.
The relief package was made possible through contributions from the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN), Kingdom of the Netherlands, Government of Canada, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, was on hand at the Kingston Freeport Container Terminal to receive the shipment. She expressed deep gratitude to Jamaica’s international partners, describing them as “true friends.”
“It is times like these—times of trouble—when you know who your true friends are,” she said. “But the truth is, you are all friends who are with us even when we are not in times of trouble, because we partner together in good and in bad.”
Johnson Smith noted that while the delivery of relief supplies represents a major step in the emergency response and recovery effort, challenges remain, particularly in reaching severely affected communities where roads are still impassable.
The ship’s captain, Lieutenant Commander Max Borsboom, added that the shipment includes two pickup trucks donated by the World Food Programme, which will help responders access remote and isolated areas.
Officials said the humanitarian supplies will be distributed in coordination with local authorities to ensure timely delivery to families most in need.
