The United States has announced ongoing disaster assistance efforts in the Caribbean following Hurricane Melissa. As of November 12, U.S. support includes several initiatives aimed at aiding recovery in affected countries.
Jeremy Lewin, Senior Official for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, traveled to Jamaica to meet with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, members of the State Department Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County.
On November 10, the U.S. government announced nearly $12.6 million in additional disaster aid, bringing total assistance related to Hurricane Melissa to almost $37 million.
A DART composed of State Department disaster response experts was deployed on October 29 to The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. In addition, USAR teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County Fire Departments were sent to Jamaica to assist with search and rescue operations as well as debris removal.
U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Task Force-Bravo delivered 530,000 pounds of relief supplies—including food, safe drinking water, and shelter materials—to communities in western Jamaica that were severely impacted by the hurricane.
The State Department shipped 12,000 tarps, 12,000 shelter kits, and hygiene supplies for 12,000 families from its warehouse in Miami to Jamaica. In Haiti, nearly 3,000 plastic sheets and shelter kits prepositioned by the U.S. were distributed through the International Organization for Migration to people displaced by the storm.
The UN World Food Program provided food commodities to 12,700 people in Haiti. The Bahamas Red Cross Society received support for shelter as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. Additionally, funding was provided for Catholic Relief Services in Cuba to ensure that those affected by Hurricane Melissa receive aid without interference from Cuban authorities.
"The United States continues to stand by the people of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and The Bahamas as they recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa," according to a statement released by officials.