Hurricane Melissa: Critical Update on Devastation and Official Government of Jamaica Relief Coordination

The Jamaican Association of Australia provides this critical update following the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 system, which has brought unprecedented devastation to the island. The President of the Association, Dr Stephanie Fletcher-Lartey, who also serves as the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, Elected Representative – Asia and the Pacific, has been in frequent communication with the Jamaican Embassy in Tokyo (which holds responsibility for Australia), and this update includes critical information verified directly by the Embassy.

The Scale of the Disaster

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Western Jamaica, specifically the town of New Hope, Westmoreland, on 28th October at approximately 13:00 (Jamaica Time). The storm, which is one of the strongest ever recorded in the Caribbean, has caused widespread devastation across multiple parishes. While the entire country has been impacted, the most devastating effects are concentrated in the parishes of St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, Manchester, Hanover, and Westmoreland.

● Widespread Destruction: The passage of the storm brought severe flooding, numerous landslides, and extensive damage to private homes and national infrastructure, including airports and vital agricultural regions.

● Power and Communications: Large sections of Jamaica are still experiencing widespread power outages. While most internet services are slowly returning online in major cities, the continued lack of electricity in many areas significantly impacts communication and internet access.

● Confirmed Casualties: Regrettably, the death toll has climbed to 28 and is expected to rise further as search and rescue crews continue to gain access to more isolated and previously inaccessible areas.

● Isolated Communities: Many communities in Western Jamaica remain completely cut off, with key roads blocked by debris. Isolated residents face critical shortages of food, power, and running water.

Threat to National Food Security

The economic impact is immediate and severe. Media reports confirm that the Category 5 hurricane has decimated the country’s agricultural “breadbasket” across St Elizabeth, Manchester, and Trelawny, destroying farms and killing essential livestock. This widespread destruction prompts serious fears of potential food shortages stretching into early 2026.

Official Call for Secure Support

As damage assessment and national recovery efforts move into full gear, the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) strongly advises the Jamaican Diaspora and friends of Jamaica to channel all support through the official GoJ platform only:

supportjamaica.gov.jm

This information, verified directly by the Embassy, confirms that this is the only Government of Jamaica platform designed to securely coordinate relief, mobilise resources, and manage the national recovery efforts.

Liaison for Australian Organisations: Individuals and organisations wishing to support the GoJ relief and recovery efforts are encouraged to visit the official website for information.

The Association expresses thanks to those who have contributed and continues to appeal to members of the diaspora and friends of Jamaica to support its fundraising efforts towards the emergency response and recovery. https://gofund.me/king.dive.draw

For large-scale or corporate support, the Jamaican Association of Australia (JAA) can provide direct liaison between Australian organisations and the Jamaican Embassy in Tokyo to facilitate contributions.

Security Warning: We urge the public to be mindful of SCAMS and fictitious websites capitalising on the hurricane and people in distress. If a website does not end in “.gov.jm”, it is not an official Government of Jamaica website.

Resources and Ways to Assist

The official supportjamaica.gov.jm platform allows users to:

● Donate Securely

● Access the Preliminary National Needs List

● Report Emergencies

● Locate nearby shelters

Persons may also make direct bank transfers to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), for which detailed banking information is attached to this release.

Additionally, the Tourism Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to support visitors on the island during this period. Contact details for this centre are also available upon request.

The Embassy of Jamaica is most grateful for your kind support and assistance in sharing this information widely across your network of contacts, who may wish to offer their support to Jamaica during this extremely challenging period. The Embassy will continue to provide updates as new official information becomes available.