Hurricane Melissa has severely affected the Caribbean region, causing loss of life, as well as damage to homes and infrastructure, impacting local communities and economies.
Today, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced $7 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts in the Caribbean region.
Of this amount, $5 million will be allocated to humanitarian partners to provide life-saving assistance, such as emergency food, water, sanitation and health services, as well as protection and logistics services. The remaining $2 million has been allocated to the World Food Programme's (WFP) Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub, which is dispatching food and relief items to Jamaica.
Canada has also offered to deploy relief supplies from its emergency stockpiles via the Red Cross Movement should they be requested.
Canada supports the region's preparations for major disasters through WFP and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Canada's Resilience and Enhanced Adaptability to Disasters in the Caribbean (READY) project has helped strengthen disaster preparedness in countries like Jamaica by improving logistics and warehouse planning and enhancing social protection systems for rapid emergency assistance. Through the Targeted Support to CDEMA project, Canada has strengthened CDEMA's capacity to provide surge support for relief distribution, emergency telecommunications and search and rescue. Canada continues to support CDEMA's Regional Response Mechanism, recognizing its vital role in coordinating timely and effective disaster response across the Caribbean.
With climate-related natural disasters on the rise and global warming leading to an increase in this kind of tropical storm, Canada is prepared to support those affected by severe weather crises and continue working with partners on climate resilience and emergency preparedness to ensure a safer future for all.
Canada continues to monitor the situation in the Caribbean region and remains in close contact with experienced partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.
