Amazon has announced disaster relief efforts to support Jamaica and Caribbean communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. The company is providing emergency goods, technology, and logistics support in coordination with the United Nations (UN) and humanitarian partners to help restore power and communications.
According to Amazon’s official newsroom release, the company is collaborating with UN agencies and first responders to assist communities across Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas as Hurricane Melissa causes widespread devastation. Amazon said that its disaster relief effort focuses on restoring power, communications, and access to emergency supplies for thousands of families displaced by the Category 5 storm. The company emphasized that its priority is supporting community-led recovery by coordinating logistics and emergency technology distribution with trusted nonprofit partners.
Amazon's announcement highlighted a dedicated disaster relief flight from Virginia to Kingston carrying 2,500 pounds of solar-powered batteries and satellite Wi-Fi connectors. This marks the first international deployment of Amazon’s disaster relief technology. These kits will be used to power hospitals, police stations, and emergency operations centers across Jamaica. The effort also includes more than 150,000 emergency supplies—such as tarps, generators, water filters, and hygiene kits—donated from Amazon’s Disaster Relief Hub in Atlanta. This hub is one of 15 globally that maintain year-round readiness for rapid response.
According to reporting by Reuters, Amazon partnered with organizations including the World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, Global Empowerment Mission, and Operation BBQ Relief to coordinate food distribution and recovery logistics. The company donated warehouse space in Tampa, Florida, to Operation BBQ Relief, which is preparing over 180,000 meals for hurricane-affected families in Jamaica. Abe Diaz, Amazon’s Head of Disaster Relief said that the company’s logistics and cloud technology expertise allow it to "get supplies to communities quickly and ensure aid reaches the right places at the right time."
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Seattle, Amazon is a global technology and logistics company operating businesses in e-commerce, cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), digital media, and transportation. Through its Disaster Relief and humanitarian initiatives since 2017, Amazon has donated and delivered more than 26 million emergency supplies worldwide. The company leverages its logistics network, data systems, and cloud technologies to assist first responders and strengthen global disaster recovery efforts.