Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage in Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa: UN Secretary General calls for solidarity with victims in Jamaica Humanitarian assistance
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed solidarity with the people of Jamaica, especially those affected by the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful in the Atlantic on record.
In a phone call with Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Sunday, Guterres stressed that “international support is critical” to help Jamaica cope with the effects of the category five hurricane. The UN chief called for the mobilization of significant resources to respond to the natural disaster.
UN releases $4 million
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has committed $4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) so that UN agencies and their partners can quickly expand humanitarian operations to Jamaica.
Five days after the hurricane hit the west of the island, many residents are still waiting for help, according to local media, with roads impassable and entire areas without electricity or water. Government figures put the death toll at at least 28.
UN Resident Coordinator on the island Dennis Zulu said 13 UN agencies were working with authorities to clear roads and help rebuild critical infrastructure.
Support for children and families
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), more than 700,000 children in the Caribbean region, including Jamaica, Haiti and western Haiti, were affected by the hurricane.
With the Government of Jamaica, UNICEF is providing nutrition assistance, sanitation and hygiene assistance, and psychological support 284 thousand children.
In Haiti, the UN agency supplies hygiene kits and medical supplies, and also provides cash assistance to families with children.
Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNICEF delivered humanitarian supplies to Cuba intended for more than 90 thousand people affected by the hurricane. circle,” emphasized OCHA Head Tom Fletcher.
Office teams are already in Jamaica, helping to coordinate the humanitarian operation and ensure effective information sharing. UN agencies and non-governmental organizations are restoring access to affected areas, providing medical care and clean water, and helping families who have lost their homes.
Cuba prepares for hurricane’s onslaught
$4 million in advance from CERF for Cuba allowed UN agencies to deploy the necessary supplies before the disaster struck. Thus, the World Food Program (WFP) provided food for 180 thousand people, and UNICEF provided mobile water purification units and hygiene kits.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) pre-delivered medicines and generators, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provided seeds and materials to protect shelters and important resources. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has distributed kits to support the health and dignity of women and girls.
Haiti: Early Warnings
In Haiti, where armed gang violence is worsening the crisis, humanitarian teams are working with authorities to provide emergency assistance. In the days leading up to the disaster, $4 million in funding from CERF led to more than 3.5 million alerts being prepared, helping to save lives. support.
“Local leadership, global solidarity and early action are saving lives across the region,” said Tom Fletcher. “This is the new humanitarian model in action – working together for a greater result.”