The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has dismissed as false, claims circulating on social media that persons are required to present identification or Taxpayer Registration Numbers (TRNs) to collect hurricane relief packages.

In a statement Sunday, the ministry said there appears to be “an attempt to conflate two separate activities,” clarifying that no documentation is required to access food or hygiene packages being distributed to affected households. 

Documentation, the ministry explained, is only needed during the household damage assessment process to verify ownership and ensure that post-relief benefits go to legitimate residents during the recovery phase.

“Given the scale of the recent disaster, and recognising that many persons may have lost important documents, our social workers have been instructed to proceed with all assessments and to advise beneficiaries on how to replace lost documents before any payout exercise,” said Audrey Deer-Williams, chief technical director with responsibility for social security.

Permanent Secretary Dione Jennings added that the ministry continues to make adjustments “in keeping with the realities on the ground, to ensure that no affected individual is left behind.”

Relief operations are being undertaken in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, parish disaster coordinators, and local and international partners, with field support from the Jamaica Defence Force and the police.

The update comes as desperation deepens in several cut-off communities still reeling from the destruction left by Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Westmoreland on October 28 as a Category 5 storm – the most powerful to strike Jamaica packing winds near 185 miles per hour. 

The hurricane devastated parts of western and southern Jamaica, leaving more than 27 communities marooned by floodwaters and fallen trees, and affecting over 90,000 people islandwide.

The government, supported by the JDF, has established 22 humanitarian outposts across the hardest-hit parishes to facilitate food drops, water distribution, and medical assistance.

The ministry says its teams remain on the ground carrying out both relief delivery and damage assessments simultaneously to ensure that no affected community is left unattended.

Residents may contact the MLSS Client Care Centre at 876-922-8000-13 or WhatsApp 876-582-8972 to verify information or report concerns.