United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Jamaica as the country continues to grapple with the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, the Secretary-General said he spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who also serves as Minister of Defence and Minister of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development. Guterres conveyed his deep concern for the widespread destruction and human suffering caused by the Category Five hurricane, which left a trail of devastation across the island.
The Secretary-General underscored the importance of international solidarity and urgent support, emphasizing that a large-scale, coordinated response is essential to address the extensive loss and damage.
“He calls for the mobilization of massive resources to deal with the loss and damage from the hurricane,” the statement read.
As part of the immediate response, Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $4 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help UN agencies and their partners quickly scale up humanitarian operations in Jamaica. The funding will go toward providing critical relief supplies, supporting emergency shelter needs, and restoring access to basic services in the hardest-hit communities.
The United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Jamaican government, regional partners, and international donors to support the country’s recovery and reconstruction efforts in the wake of the storm.
