International relief agencies and charitable organizations are scrambling to bring aid to the Jamaican people after a massive hurricane — the strongest ever to make landfall in the Caribbean island nation’s history — swept ashore on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and leaving catastrophic damage in its wake.
The International Federation of the Red Cross previously said up to 1.5 million people in Jamaica were expected to be directly affected by the storm, the first-ever Category 5 hurricane to hit the island nation.
Check whether the recipient organization will direct the gift explicitly to relief efforts for Jamaica.
While the exact scale and scope of the damage are still unknown — Melissa struck a glancing blow in northwest Jamaica rather than a direct hit, yet was powerful enough to knock out communications across the island — a range of humanitarian organizations are accepting donations to help get the island back on its feet.
According to reports, the Category 5 hurricane’s drenching rain and 185-mph winds, toppled utility poles, tore the roof off a high school being used as a shelter, and triggered flooding and landslides. Damaged homes covered in mud and waterlogged furniture dotted the landscape.
The storm is expected to strike the Bahamas next before passing near Bermuda.
The high winds that accompanied Hurricane Melissa’s landfall in Jamaica have made it difficult for the other islands to prepare for the monster storm. Aid agencies and relief organizations have been in Jamaica since Monday and have already mobilized to support the other nations in the region.
Cash Donations Are Recommended
Several humanitarian organizations are collecting various types of donations. Cash donations are strongly recommended to avoid logistical bottlenecks when sending goods. Those who prefer to donate goods such as hygiene kits should contact an organization like Good360.
Still, individual donors should check whether the recipient organization will direct the gift explicitly to relief efforts for Jamaica or to the entire affected region. Also, donors should keep records of the gift for tax or reporting purposes.
How to Help People Affected by Hurricane Melissa:
| Organization | What They’re Providing | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) | Established a $1 million matching fund for relief efforts in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa. American Friends of Jamaica | Visit AFJ’s website and designate a donation to “Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund”. American Friends of Jamaica. |
| Direct Relief | Pre-positioning medical supplies in the Caribbean and coordinating health-facility support in Jamaica. Direct Relief | Donate via their website; look for the “Hurricane Melissa” or Caribbean crisis fund. Direct Relief |
| Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) | Has a Caribbean team in Jamaica, pre-deploying supplies and coordinating relief logistics. Global Empowerment Mission | Donate through GEM’s website (check their Hurricane Melissa page). Global Empowerment Mission |
| Good360 | Coordinating essential goods donations (generators, shelter materials, hygiene kits) via partner network, for Jamaica’s relief efforts. (Good360) | On their website, look under “Hurricane Melissa relief” or similar campaigns. (Good360) |
| Care | Mobilizing for first-aid, emergency food rations, hygiene supplies, water, and shelter needs in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. (my.care.org) | Donate via the dedicated “Hurricane Melissa” donation portal on their site. (my.care.org) |
| Send Relief | Working with regional Baptist partners to deliver emergency supplies and support long-term recovery in Jamaica. (Send Relief) | Use their “Hurricane Melissa” project page to give. Send Relief) |
| International Medical Corps | Working with a Jamaican partner (“The Animal House Jamaica”) to supply food, shelter, and care for animals impacted by the storm. IFAW | Donations via their site under the “Hurricane Melissa” relief effort. International Medical Corps |
| World Relief | Mobilizing partners in Jamaica to provide funds and relief kits to affected households as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall. World Relief) | Check their relief response page for Jamaica/Hurricane Melissa giving options. World Relief |
| IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) | Working with a Jamaican partner (“The Animal House Jamaica”) to supply food, shelter and care for animals impacted by the storm. IFAW | Donate via IFAW’s relief page under the “Hurricane Melissa – Jamaica” heading. IFAW |
