The United Nations International Organisation for Migration says it will dispatch solar lamps, blankets, indoor tents, generators and other items from its logistics hub in Barbados to Jamaica as soon as the storm crosses the island.
“Many people are likely to be displaced from their homes and [are] in urgent need of shelter and relief,” said Natasha Greaves, interim head for IOM Jamaica.
A fallen tree in St. Catherine, Jamaica.Credit: AFP
Meanwhile, the nonprofit Direct Relief said it had two packages with enough medications to treat 3000 people in one month staged in Panama and ready to deploy to Jamaica.
It also will send a shipment of 100 field medic packs from its warehouse in California to Jamaica as soon as the island’s main international airport reopens.
The British government also said it was ready to deliver humanitarian aid if requested. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she spoke to her Jamaican counterpart Kamina Johnson Smith “to offer the UK’s full support and solidarity, and we are prepared to mobilise resources at their request”.
The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston could start accommodating relief flights from as early as Thursday, but uncertainty remains over other airports in the weather front’s path.
Jamaican Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said Hurricane Melissa, which is forecast to leave the country by the end of Tuesday local time, had not caused extensive damage to the international airport.
He said most of Wednesday would be spent cleaning up and restoring and testing equipment at the airport before accommodating the emergency flights.
However, Vaz said the weather front could have a “potential disabling impact” on Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
“We are not sure what will happen in Montego Bay,” he said.
Meanwhile, China has aid parcels ready for Cuba ahead of Melissa’s arrival.
China’s ambassador to Cuba posted a video on X showing the transportation of hundreds of boxes of what he called “family kits,” along with pictures of their contents: footwear, toothbrushes, forks, spoons, bowls, umbrellas and thermal blankets, among others.
“The damage is expected to be considerable,” Hua Xin wrote. The products were pre-positioned in eastern Cuba ahead of the hurricane and were delivered by the Chinese Red Cross to its Cuban counterpart.
With AP