Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica all suffered significant damage and loss of life following Hurricane Melissa.
Speaking from the Jamaican capital, Kingston, the representative of the World Food Program (PAM)Alexis Masciarelli said UN News that “our priority at the moment is to reach the most isolated communities”.
WFP has now launched emergency food distributions for the hardest-hit families, and additional relief supplies are expected to arrive in the coming days, the agency reported.
St. Elizabeth Parish – long considered the breadbasket of the country – has been particularly hard hit, with homes, farms and livelihoods destroyed, and many communities still cut off and without electricity.
Food transported by plane
So far, 1,500 people have received food kits containing rice, lentils, canned fish and meat, and vegetable oil, while an additional 2,000 kits have been flown from Barbados to support ongoing relief efforts.
WFP plans to help up to 200,000 people in Jamaica to meet urgent food needs.
In CubaHurricane Melissa caused widespread flooding, power outages and significant damage.
Food distributions have already reached 181,000 people evacuated to shelters, and WFP aims to assist a total of 900,000 people.
In Haitihomes and infrastructure along the southern coast – the hardest hit area – were washed away.
Emergency food distributions reached 12,700 people in the Grand Sud region. WFP plans to help 190,000 people, providing a two-week food ration followed by a month of cash assistance to support recovery.
The challenges ahead
Mr. Masciarelli stressed that the main challenge ahead will be to reach people “in the last mile, that is, those who most need help in areas that remain inaccessible.”
In addition, he highlighted the continued breakdown in communications, with many areas still isolated after the hurricane, making it difficult to assess the needs of the population and monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis.
Reiterating WFP’s commitment to meeting the food needs of the population and supporting relief efforts, the WFP spokesperson acknowledged that the recovery period would most likely be a “very long marathon recovery period.”
On Wednesday, WFP launched an urgent appeal for $74 million to provide lifesaving assistance to 1.1 million people in the Caribbean.
The UN food agency continues to work with governments and partners to ensure the delivery of supplies and emergency assistance to communities in need.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
