The Government of Japan has provided an emergency grant of US$2 million to its Jamaican counterpart to help with the island’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa that ravaged the country three weeks ago.

This, is in addition to the relief supplies and several machines, which arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday, November 5 to purify water and aid the recovery effort after the devastation caused by the Category 5 storm. With this emergency grant, Japan will implement humanitarian assistance in food, shelters, and health through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the people and the Government of Jamaica in the recovery efforts.

It is part of a US$4 million emergency grant package Japan has provided also to Cuba and Haiti, where Hurricane Melissa left a trail of destruction in late October. In making the announcement at a press conference earlier this week, Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi commented, “We are ready to work closely with relevant countries and organisations to ensure the earliest possible recovery of the affected areas.” He added, “Japan continues to stand with Jamaica and the people affected.”

In the meantime, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Kamina Johnson Smith, is expressing gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for an emergency grant of more than US$2 million, channelled through the WFP and the IFRC. She welcomed Japan’s solidarity with Jamaica, noting that this support will reach the hardest-hit regions across six parishes, providing shelter, food and critical health care, following the passage of hurricane Melissa on October 28.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, I express appreciation to the Government and people of Japan, and to my counterpart Minister Motegi, for Japan’s timely support. Jamaica values the long-standing relationship we share with Japan and the strength of the J-J Partnership, built over decades of cooperation in disaster preparedness, climate resilience and community-level development. This assistance reflects a clear expression of solidarity from a country that understands the hardship disasters bring and the determination required to recover. We are grateful to the Japanese people for standing with Jamaica at this difficult time”, Johnson Smith said in conclusion.