Hurricane Melissa: IOM makes arrangements  for potential victims in Jamaica

UN migration agency,  the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in anticipation of Hurricane Melissa’s impact, is coordinating an early response to support national efforts and deliver life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities expected to be affected.

Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category 5 hurricane that is already causing devastating storm surge along Jamaica’s southern coastline. The hurricane is forecast to bring catastrophic winds and between 350-750 mm (15-30 inches) of rainfall over two to three days, beginning Monday night and continuing into early Tuesday. 

With such conditions expected, the risk of flooding, landslides, and widespread damage is extremely high. As a precaution, the Government of Jamaica has requested support from the United Nations and other international partners to reinforce its emergency preparedness and response capacities.

“Hurricane Melissa poses a serious threat to Jamaica. Many people are likely to be displaced from their homes and in urgent need of shelter and relief,” said Natasha Greaves, Interim Head of Office for IOM Jamaica. “IOM is working closely with the Government and partners to ensure that critical supplies and personnel are pre-positioned and ready to respond. Our focus remains on saving lives and supporting the most vulnerable with dignity and care.”

To meet these urgent needs, IOM is dispatching emergency relief supplies from its Caribbean Logistics Hub in Barbados, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP). The shipment, which includes solar lamps, hygiene kits, blankets, pillows, air mattresses, indoor tents, shelter repair kits, ropes, tarpaulins, and generators, has been prioritized based on the Government of Jamaica’s identified needs. The items are expected to arrive in Kingston later this week.

Beyond distributing relief items, IOM will leverage its partnerships with DHL for customs and logistics and with Microsoft for satellite imagery to map damage and inform data analysis in the days and weeks following the storm. The Organization also welcomes additional partnerships and donations to assist people displaced by Hurricane Melissa.

IOM staff from across the Caribbean are being deployed to support IOM’s Jamaica team on the ground, including through the CDEMA-led Rapid Needs Assessment Team. Staff will coordinate closely with national authorities to ensure that assistance is delivered according to needs and guided by Jamaica’s emergency management protocols.

Greaves noted that IOM’s extensive experience in emergency operations and long-standing partnerships across the region enable the Organization to respond swiftly and effectively in times of crisis. She said that the lessons learned and relationships built during last year’s Hurricane Beryl response, as well as in previous emergencies across the Caribbean, have strengthened IOM’s ability to act as a reliable partner for coordinated action.

IOM’s response will be fully integrated within Jamaica’s national systems, with the Organization providing technical, logistical, and coordination support as requested by the Government. Coordination is ongoing with the Humanitarian Assistance Committee (HAC), the UN Resident Coordinator, and UN agencies to ensure a unified and effective response.

IOM urges the public to follow evacuation advisories and official updates, and to prepare for potential flooding, landslides, hurricane-force winds, power outages, and limited access to essential services during the storm’s passage.

These supplies have been made possible through the support of EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), Good360, Amazon, and IOM’s Flexible Funding Mechanism. Their contributions enable IOM to act swiftly and effectively in the face of this emergency.