National Relief Effort Remains Robust

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, says that more than 115,000 relief packages have been delivered, to date, through the national system.

He noted that the packages, including sanitisation and hygiene kits, have benefited 282 communities islandwide.

“The national relief effort remains robust,” he said, noting that the agency continues to prioritise underserved communities in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Manchester, St. James, Trelawny and Hanover.

Commander Gayle was speaking at a Hurricane Melissa recovery update press conference at Jamaica House on Wednesday (November 19).

He noted that the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has expanded its distribution footprint to seven hubs and almost 26 humanitarian supply areas, while maintaining air, ground and small unit delivery operations in the deep-rural corridors.

He informed that, to date, 590 flying hours have been dedicated to relief efforts.

The World Central Kitchen has also served 1.3 million meals islandwide, particularly in the most affected parishes.

Turning to health, Commander Gayle informed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is expanding its operations through mobile clinics and pharmacies and mental health teams going into various communities.

He reported that public health surveillance for leptospirosis, dengue, tetanus, and waterborne illness has commenced.

Commander Gayle said a field hospital is to be established in the Savanna-la-Mar area by the Barbados Defence Force to bolster medical services in the western region.

Meanwhile, more than 16,000 doners both locally and overseas have contributed to the Government of Jamaica’s disaster relief platform, totalling $556 million.