A new phase of post-hurricane recovery is underway as thousands of Jamaicans affected by October’s category 5 Hurricane Melissa begin receiving direct financial support to help rebuild their lives.
The initiative, led by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), is designed to assist approximately 50,000 people whose homes, livelihoods, and food security were severely disrupted by the storm. The programme represents a strategic pivot away from short-term emergency feeding toward longer-term recovery and economic stabilization.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, relief efforts concentrated on distributing emergency food packages, reaching more than 123,000 vulnerable individuals across St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, and Westmoreland. With basic needs addressed and commercial activity slowly resuming, the focus has now shifted to restoring autonomy and resilience at the household level.
Eligible families—identified by MLSS through the Jamaica Household Damage, Impact and Needs Assessment—will receive cash support to meet food and essential needs. The programme also includes beneficiaries in Hanover, expanding its reach across western Jamaica.
According to WFP’s Caribbean leadership, cash-based assistance plays a critical role in recovery by allowing households to prioritize their most urgent needs while preserving dignity and independence. Rather than prescribing aid, the approach places decision-making power directly in the hands of those affected.
The injection of cash into local communities is also expected to have a wider economic impact. As shops, markets, and small businesses reopen, increased household spending is anticipated to stimulate demand, support local vendors, and hasten the return of everyday economic activity in storm-affected areas.
Government officials have emphasized that the programme aligns with national priorities to protect the most vulnerable while strengthening community resilience. The partnership with WFP enables faster delivery of assistance and ensures that support reaches those most in need through established social protection systems.
Beyond immediate cash relief, WFP is contributing to Jamaica’s longer-term recovery through initiatives aimed at rehabilitating agriculture and fisheries, improving nutrition outcomes, and stabilizing local markets. As part of its disaster risk financing collaboration with the government, funds totaling US$1.9 million from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility will also be channelled to vulnerable households.
The programme is funded through contributions from multiple international partners and private donors, reflecting broad support for Jamaica’s recovery and a shared commitment to helping affected communities rebuild stronger and more resilient than before.
