A massive relief operation is underway between South Florida and Jamaica, as a Boeing 737 loaded with 50,000 pounds of food, water, and medical supplies landed in Kingston on Monday to help communities reeling from Hurricane Melissa’s destruction.
The aircraft carried essential cargo — from infant supplies and power banks to medical machines — and marked the first in a series of airlifts organized by South Florida–based partners determined to support recovery efforts across the island.
Among those on the ground was Dr. Dahlia Blake, a physician with Memorial Healthcare System, who helped coordinate the medical response.
“I wanted to be here on the ground because I am Jamaican,” Blake said. “I am a native of Jamaica and people are suffering due to Hurricane Melissa, Category 5 that has destroyed the island, and it’s important for us to have a social responsibility and also our healthcare system is a phenomenal healthcare system.”
She said the relief mission came together through a surge of collaboration across hospital leadership and community partners. “The response was overwhelming,” Blake added. “Massive amount of coordination of effort, including our CEO, who is a great humanitarian as well, the leadership, Douglas Harrison, who also on the board of commissioners on Memorial Healthcare System. Maria Salcedo, who is also part of this MPG who spurred everything into action. So we’re grateful.”
Medical supplies delivered included EKG machines, power banks, and basic patient-care items.
“We have food, we have infant supplies, diapers, wipes, we have healthcare machines and power banks, EKG machines,” said Dr. Je-Anne Beaufort, another South Florida physician who joined the mission. She noted that the equipment is crucial for clinics and hospitals left damaged or without electricity.
Blake said she hopes the supplies reach the communities hit hardest. More shipments are expected to follow in the coming days, with distribution coordinated across the island.
Several Miami-Dade County Commissioners were present at the airport to see the relief flight off.
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“When one of us feel it, we all feel it,” said Commissioner Kionne McGhee. “This is medical supplies, resources going to the great people of Jamaica. We are them and they are us which means we are one. This says to me that all is not lost.”
Commissioner Oliver Gilbert also emphasized the county’s deep ties to the Caribbean and the generosity of its people.
“Fifty-three percent of the people in Miami-Dade County were born in a different country. We’re all from some place else. What’s special about us is us coming together,” Gilbert said. “In Miami-Dade County, this is our heart, people give even when they don’t have to. Hope is on full display. We want the people of Jamaica to know that they don’t ever have to be hopeless as long as we’re here.”
The ongoing effort is being led by Captain Barrington Irving Jr., the Jamaican-born Guinness World Record holder who became the youngest person and first Black pilot to fly solo around the world.
Last week, at a press conference, Irving announced that airlift operations were being arranged to help move relief supplies as quickly as possible. “This will take a monumental effort,” he said. “One of the things we’ve focused on is trying to help get the supplies down to the island. We’re taking 50,000 pounds of cargo at a time on a Boeing 737-800 back and forth from South Florida to Jamaica.”
Through his nonprofit, Experience Aviation, Irving has coordinated and delivered more than half a million pounds of humanitarian aid during past crises — including Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and several other regional disasters.
“We’ve had folks call and say, ‘Hey, I have a garage filled with items—I just don’t know how to get it there,’” Irving said. “The whole point is to get these items into the hands of people in the various communities. Our first two trips start next Monday and Tuesday and will continue through Thanksgiving.”
Joining the mission is the Buju Banton Foundation, which has partnered with Irving and his Experience Aviation team to organize one of the largest humanitarian airlifts ever launched outside Jamaica since Hurricane Melissa struck.
The partnership is mobilizing global support to deliver the supplies to storm-hit communities across the island. The Boeing 737-800, Buju Banton said, will be “loaded to capacity, inside and in its belly,” thanks to the outpouring of donations from supporters worldwide.
