KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United Kingdom has announced an additional £5 million (Sh938 million) in emergency humanitarian aid to help the Caribbean recover from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa, bringing the UK’s total relief commitment to £7.5 million (Sh1.4 billion) in under a week.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the new funding package will finance the delivery of over 3,000 shelter kits and 1,500 solar-powered lanterns for families whose homes were destroyed and communities still without electricity.
The UK is coordinating these efforts with the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to ensure aid reaches those most in need.
Part of the new support will also match public donations up to £1 million to the IFRC’s emergency appeal for Jamaica, which remains among the worst-hit nations in the region.
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that tore through Jamaica earlier this week, left at least 19 people dead, displaced thousands, and crippled communication networks.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the expanded funding reflects the UK’s solidarity with the Caribbean people as the full scale of devastation becomes clearer.
“More information is now coming through on the scale of devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, with homes damaged, roads blocked, and lives lost,” Cooper said. “That is why the UK Government is increasing our funding for humanitarian support to ensure we can get shelter kits, solar lamps, and sanitation products to those who need them most.”
The UK’s Rapid Deployment Team from the FCDO has now arrived in Jamaica to provide consular assistance to affected Britons, while officials coordinate closely with tour operators and Jamaican authorities to restore commercial flights.
For those unable to leave, the FCDO is preparing government-supported evacuation flights.
In a statement from the Americas, Loyce Pace, Regional Director for the IFRC, welcomed the UK’s intervention, saying it would be crucial for both short-term relief and long-term recovery.
“People in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa have a long road ahead to recover and rebuild stronger,” she said. “This contribution will help restore homes and livelihoods while strengthening communities’ resilience to future hurricanes.”
The UK Government had earlier pre-positioned emergency supplies in Antigua and Barbuda, enabling rapid deployment across the region as reports of widespread flooding and infrastructure damage emerged from Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, the Royal Navy vessel HMS Trent, which had been stationed in the Caribbean ahead of the hurricane season, remains on standby to provide additional logistical and medical support.
The disaster has reignited calls for stronger climate resilience and financing mechanisms for small island states, which remain disproportionately affected by increasingly severe storms.
British officials said London is working with Caribbean governments, multilateral banks, and the London Centre for Disaster Protection to activate pre-agreed financial instruments designed to speed up post-disaster recovery in Jamaica and Haiti.
As humanitarian convoys continue to reach isolated communities, local authorities have warned that recovery could take months. Power outages persist in large parts of western Jamaica, and clean water access remains limited.
Despite these challenges, Cooper said the UK’s support will continue beyond immediate relief. “We stand with Jamaica and the wider Caribbean not just in crisis, but in rebuilding lives and ensuring resilience for the future,” she said.
