PAHO/WHO calls for urgent donor support for health response after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact in Jamaica – PAHO/WHO
Washington, DC, November 5, 2025 (PAHO/WHO) – The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has issued a donor alert to mobilize critical resources for the health response after Hurricane Melissa, which has left a trail of destruction in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The alert, now available online, outlines the most urgent health needs and the funding needed to address them over the next six months in Jamaica.
The hurricane has claimed more than 50 lives and displaced more than a million people throughout the Caribbean. Jamaica has been especially hard hit, with 2.8 million people exposed to destructive winds and flooding. As of November 3, 32 deaths had been confirmed in Jamaica, 94 injuries had been treated and more than 7,000 people remained in shelters.
Five major hospitals are severely damaged in the western and southern regions of the country. Seventy water supplies were left inoperable due to high turbidity and power outages. Forty percent of facilities islandwide still have electrical instability, further complicating recovery efforts.
Health services under pressure
Initial health assessments reveal a dire situation in Jamaica. The continuity of essential health services is under serious pressure, especially for vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic diseases. Infrastructure damage and service disruptions have made access to care extremely difficult.
Mental health needs are also emerging as a critical concern. Communities are grappling with trauma and loss, and demand for psychological support and community interventions is growing rapidly.
The risk of disease outbreaks is substantial. Flooding, sanitation failures, and widespread displacement have created conditions ripe for the spread of water-borne, food-borne, mosquito-borne, and respiratory diseases, particularly in shelters where overcrowding increases transmission risks. At the same time, logistical challenges continue to hinder access to affected communities, delaying damage assessment and delivery of vital supplies.
Donor support urgently needed
To respond effectively, PAHO/WHO is seeking US$14.2 million in donor support. This funding will help restore health care delivery, intensify disease surveillance, ensure safe water and sanitation, and improve coordination of humanitarian assistance. The majority – $10.2 million – is intended to support the continuity of essential care provision, including critical mental health support, and restore damaged health service capacity.
PAHO/WHO has already activated its emergency procedures and contingency plans. Twelve international experts have been deployed to Jamaica to support infrastructure damage assessment, environmental health, mental health and psychosocial assistance, emergency medical teams, logistics and coordination. Daily collaboration is underway with the national Health Emergency Operations Center, the United Nations Country Team and other humanitarian partners.
PAHO/WHO also leads health sector coordination and participates in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) efforts, while mobilizing medical supplies from its regional reserves in Panama and Barbados. Additional resources are urgently needed to scale up and sustain critical health response operations on the ground to protect the lives and health of affected populations.
The full donor alert document is available online and provides detailed information on the response strategy and funding breakdown.
