KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, has expressed profound gratitude to the international community for its support and solidarity following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Senator Johnson Smith thanked countries, international organisations, the Jamaican Diaspora, and non-governmental partners for their assistance in relief and recovery efforts after the powerful storm.
“In times of crisis, no country can stand alone. We are thankful to our international friends and partners for their commitment, compassion, and willingness to stand with us. Their support has not only assisted in the relief effort but will continue to be critical to the rebuilding of infrastructure and restoration of essential services,” she said.
The Minister noted that every act of support underscored the importance of bilateral, regional, and international cooperation.
“They also reaffirm our confidence in the power of unity and collective action. I reiterate our deepest gratitude to all our partners, including our particularly special Diaspora family, working with us to bring hope, comfort, and life-saving assistance to our people. Their spirit of solidarity has given renewed meaning to diplomacy, restoring faith in humanity and inspiring Jamaica to press forward with confidence toward a brighter, stronger, and more prosperous and resilient future,” she added.
Senator Johnson Smith listed assistance received from Caribbean neighbours, including The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as support from Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
She also expressed appreciation for the United Nations and its agencies, particularly UNICEF, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), noting that their programmes had been adjusted to meet Jamaica’s urgent needs.
According to the Minister, PAHO and UNICEF, working with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, continue to support mobile clinics and pharmacy services, mental health and psychosocial care, and the distribution of water, sanitation, and hygiene kits and medical supplies.
“We are also grateful to the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the EU’s civil protection and international partnership mechanisms, and the International Federation of the Red Cross, among others,” she said.
Senator Johnson Smith noted that several international bodies, including the OAS and the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA), have adopted decisions or resolutions in support of Jamaica and called on member states to assist.
She further highlighted the role of the Jamaican Diaspora, friends of Jamaica worldwide, and more than 100 external non-governmental organisations registered with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), many of which have longstanding experience in disaster response.
Private sector organisations in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana have also collaborated with their governments to send relief supplies to Jamaica.
At the local level, the Foreign Affairs Minister commended private sector companies, faith-based organisations, community groups, and individuals for mobilising aid, as well as the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jamaica’s overseas missions.
Senator Johnson Smith extended condolences to the families of the 45 people who lost their lives, those still missing, and to families worldwide affected by tropical cyclones this year. The Senate observed a minute of silence in their memory.
Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever recorded and the first Category 5 hurricane to hit the island directly. It caused widespread damage across several western and central parishes, including St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann, and Manchester.
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