The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced a US$1.1 million donation to the governments of Jamaica and Haiti to support recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in October.
According to the bank, US$600,000 of the funding will be allocated to Jamaica, while US$500,000 will go to Haiti. Both countries are Afreximbank member states.
Hurricane Melissa passed through the northern Caribbean, causing widespread destruction across several countries in the region. In letters of solidarity sent to the respective governments, Afreximbank President Dr. George Elombi expressed condolences and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting rebuilding efforts.
The donation followed separate meetings held on October 31 and November 3 between Dr. Elombi and Haitian Transitional Presidential Council Chairman H.E. Laurent Saint-Cyr, and Jamaica’s Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, respectively.
According to the United Nations, Hurricane Melissa — which reached Category 5 status in Jamaica — impacted more than 1.6 million people on the island.
“We commiserate with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, Jamaica, and other places devastated by Hurricane Melissa,” Dr. Elombi said. “While extending our support towards immediate relief efforts in the region, we recognise the scale of damage to vital infrastructure and to people’s livelihoods. We remain steadfast in our support for recovery and restoration efforts and in building our collective resilience against future climate shocks.”
Dr. Elombi also informed both leaders that Afreximbank would engage relevant agencies and authorities to explore the development of country programmes to support recovery projects. To that end, the bank’s Caribbean Office has been mandated to work with both governments to identify additional avenues for reconstruction support.
The Caribbean hurricane season runs from June to November and is marked by increased tropical storms and hurricanes, often bringing destructive winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. Researchers have warned that hurricanes are becoming more severe due to climate change, and have partially attributed the intensity of Hurricane Melissa — described as one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded — to unusually high Caribbean sea temperatures this year.
Afreximbank said it will continue working with Caribbean governments through its CARICOM Office in Barbados to explore long-term financing solutions aimed at strengthening resilience, restoring livelihoods, and reinforcing critical infrastructure.
In 2024, Afreximbank contributed more than US$500,000 to disaster relief and rebuilding efforts across Caribbean countries affected by Hurricane Beryl, underscoring the bank’s ongoing commitment to assisting nations disproportionately impacted by climate-related disasters.
