Information on Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa was the strongest storm ever to reach landfall in Jamaica and my thoughts and prayers are with those families who have lost loved ones and the devastation caused in Jamaica and other countries in the region.  

The UK Government has kept in contact and is working closely with the Jamaican government, partners and agencies to offer assistance and support, including with the Turks and Caicos Islands and other parts of the Caribbean that have been affected.

The FCDO crisis response unit is in operation with support from the MoD and DfT to monitor the storm and coordinate our humanitarian and consular response.

The UK Government immediately released £2.5m in emergency humanitarian funding and this morning and an additional allocation of £5m to further support relief efforts.  Assessment and consular teams are already on route to support the Jamaican authorities in providing disaster relief and expertise in response to this terrible storm.

Emergency relief supplies had already been prepositioned in Antigua & Barbuda – including shelter kits, medical kits and food and water supplies – to ensure they could be rapidly deployed to where they are needed most, and the Government is working with the Jamaican Government and agencies on the ground to start getting support into place.

Given the strong links between the UK and Jamaica, there are also many thousands of British nationals and UK residents who were there during the storm including holiday makers and those visiting family and friends who may be facing difficulties or needing support to return safely home.

If you need advice, the FCDO’s consular team operate 24/7 and British nationals in Jamaica or the wider region requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the local telephone service on +1 876 936 0700.

British nationals in the UK can contact the consular team on +44 (0)20 7008 5000; Travel Advice is being updated regularly to reflect the situation as it evolves.

There is a Register Your Presence portal where British Nationals in Jamaica can provide their details and receive the latest updates.

Travel companies and commercial airlines are working hard to restore flights and routes back to the UK.

The FCDO has published guidance on gov.uk

The UK and Jamaica share a deep and enduring relationship, rooted in our shared history, strong people-to-people ties, and vibrant diaspora communities and in times of crisis, that bond becomes even more important.