Gov’t Working with Partners to Deliver Cash Support to Households Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

As the Government transitions its post-disaster response to a cash-based assistance model, it will continue to collaborate with key international partners to provide support for citizens recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Melissa.

“We are now transitioning to the more cash-based assistance because recovery is not only about receiving food but also about giving the families the dignity and the flexibility to meet their immediate needs as they work to restore normal life,” Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. said.

He was speaking during a post-Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House in Kingston on Wednesday (January 14).

The Minister stated that the Government continues to work with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to deliver cash support.

“The World Food Programme has a food assistance cash support and national delivery initiative, and they have been our strong partners way before Hurricane Melissa,” he pointed out.

The Minister highlighted that WFP has completed its in-kind food distribution phase, having distributed approximately 98,000 food kits as of January 8, 2026.

The WFP was joined in its food distribution by World Central Kitchen, which delivered nearly six million meals, reaching approximately 130,000 unique beneficiaries across the parishes severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa in October last year.

Mr. Charles Jr. said approximately 10,047 persons have benefited, so far, from the WFP’s intervention in Jamaica, with hundreds more expected to be impacted through the cash grants.

“Their goal is to meet the needs of 16,000 households, up to 50,000 individuals, with each household getting two cycles of $34,000 grant to them… and that’s a big support that we do appreciate, and we want to acknowledge them for that,” the Minister stated.

He pointed out that the WFP uses the Ministry’s assessment list to determine the beneficiaries who will benefit.

“They target the senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and of course, families that are in need. This support is being delivered through established payment infrastructure, including one of the national agent networks that we have – one of the remittance agents,” the Minister detailed.

He informed that accountability mechanisms have been put in place, including an active feedback system and a monitoring system in the communities and at the redemption sites.

Mr. Charles Jr. added that the agency has also assisted the Government with upgrading the digital form that is being used to collect data during assessments of household damage due to the category-five hurricane.

Meanwhile, the Minister noted that UNICEF is supporting the Government through the Ministry to strengthen the shock-responsive social protection, particularly for children and vulnerable households.

This includes targeted support for an emergency multipurpose cash top-up for vulnerable households with children.

“The initiative aims to reach 40,000 children, including children who are on PATH (Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education) or in PATH households, with specific focus on those households that have pregnant and lactating women, children under six, and children with disabilities, along with expanding the coverage to an additional 1,000 children in the disaster-affected households,” Mr. Charles Jr. outlined.

He emphasised that UNICEF’s support is not limited to immediate assistance, as the organisation is helping the Government to strengthen its disaster response system, “so that our future response is faster [and] continues to be fair and transparent”.

Mr. Charles Jr. added that UNICEF is also ensuring disability inclusion in the overall response.

“UNICEF is also working with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), with a digital voucher mechanism embedded in our I Am Able JCPD app,” he informed.