Focus on Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Nutrition

UNICEF Jamaica has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with key partners, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Food for the Poor, and American Friends of Jamaica, under the Building a Better Jamaica Fund, an initiative administered by the National Commercial Bank Foundation. The MOU will facilitate the scale up emergency relief efforts for children and families affected by Hurricane Melissa.

As the lead agency for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), UNICEF will spearhead efforts to restore access to safe water, proper sanitation, improved hygiene, and nutrition in the hardest-hit communities across the six affected parishes.

“This MOU strengthens our ability to deliver critical services to children and families,” said Olga Isaza, UNICEF Jamaica Representative, while adding that UNICEF is committed to ensuring that children have the essentials for survival and recovery.

These efforts are already taking shape on the ground, bringing immediate relief and essential support to communities in need. UNICEF has supported the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) with a pop-up health clinic in Darliston, Westmoreland, which has restored maternal and child health services for 1,500 people. Also in Westmoreland, UNICEF provided two water treatment units with four distribution points and supplied trucks of water to Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St James to benefit more than 600 patients and staff. UNICEF also distributed one thousand (1,000) hygiene kits through its partner, Food for the Poor.

UNICEF has been delivering 47 tons of emergency supplies to partners benefitting 100,000 children, including hygiene kits, water tanks, safe drinking water, learning materials, tents, and tarpaulins, to partners for distribution in the hardest-hit communities.

An estimated 280,000 children are in need of humanitarian assistance following Hurricane Melissa. UNICEF’s response remains child-centred, focused on restoring education, health, and protection services while supporting communities to recover and rebuild. Continued support is urgently needed to ensure that every child affected by Hurricane Melissa receives the assistance they need.