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UK Evacuation Flight Lands as Jamaica Reels from Hurricane Melissa
A British government-chartered flight carrying evacuees from Jamaica is scheduled to arrive at London's Gatwick Airport on Sunday, following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa, which struck the island as a Category 5 storm earlier this week.
The evacuation comes as the UK ramps up its aid response, including a £7.5 million emergency package for the Caribbean region. Part of the funding will match public donations-up to £1 million-to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, with King Charles and Queen Camilla among the donors.
Hurricane's Deadly Aftermath
Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean, made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, leaving at least 19 dead and widespread destruction. The storm's path also claimed at least 30 lives in Haiti and caused severe flooding and landslides in Cuba.
Jamaica's Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon described the scene on Friday as dire, with "entire communities marooned and areas flattened." Blocked roads and downed infrastructure have hampered aid distribution, despite supplies arriving in recent days.
UK Aid and Evacuation Efforts
The UK initially allocated £2.5 million in emergency support, later increasing it to £7.5 million as the scale of the devastation became clear. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the additional £5 million on Friday, citing emerging reports of the storm's impact.
Around 8,000 British nationals were estimated to be on the island when the hurricane hit. The Foreign Office has urged citizens to register their presence and check with airlines for commercial flight options, though many remain stranded.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The British Red Cross reported that 72% of Jamaica remains without electricity, with roughly 6,000 people in emergency shelters. The organization emphasized the critical need for generators, tarpaulins, and clean water, as desperation grows among survivors.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential," the British Red Cross stated, highlighting ongoing search-and-rescue operations and healthcare access challenges.
Reports of looting have surfaced, with residents breaking into supermarkets for food and water. Fuel shortages persist, with hours-long queues at petrol stations often ending in disappointment as supplies run dry.
Healthcare System Under Strain
Jamaica's Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton, confirmed "significant damage" to multiple hospitals, particularly the Black River Hospital in St. Elizabeth, which must relocate services entirely. Trauma cases-including injuries from collapsed structures and debris-are overwhelming facilities.
"The immediate challenge is preserving accident and emergency services," Tufton said, noting arrangements for fuel and water deliveries to keep hospitals operational.
Aid Convoys and International Support
Relief efforts are slowly reaching isolated areas. On Saturday, the Global Empowerment Mission dispatched a seven-truck convoy from Kingston to Black River, carrying humanitarian supplies assembled by Jamaican diaspora volunteers in Florida. Helicopter deliveries from foreign governments and NGOs are also underway.
While aid trickles in, authorities acknowledge the response remains insufficient. "More is coming soon," officials assured, as communities brace for a long recovery.
