Hurricane Melissa has caused extensive damage across Jamaica, destroying 24,000 homes and damaging 156,000 dwellings, according to official reports. The disaster has resulted in 45 confirmed fatalities, with 15 individuals still missing.
The government is initiating a large-scale housing response, planning to acquire 5,000 containerized modular homes for rapid deployment starting in January. For immediate relief, emergency shelters are housing 1,296 people while repair kits and tarpaulins are being distributed. Rebuilding grants are also planned, with specific amounts pending further damage assessments. Utility restoration continues, with 31 percent of the population still without electricity and 24 percent of the water system offline, though telecommunications services have largely been recovered.
The government is initiating a large-scale housing response, planning to acquire 5,000 containerized modular homes for rapid deployment starting in January. For immediate relief, emergency shelters are housing 1,296 people while repair kits and tarpaulins are being distributed. Rebuilding grants are also planned, with specific amounts pending further damage assessments. Utility restoration continues, with 31 percent of the population still without electricity and 24 percent of the water system offline, though telecommunications services have largely been recovered.
