The United Kingdom will provide £2.5 million in emergency humanitarian funding to Jamaica in the wake of devastating damage from Hurricane Melissa. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed that the package will go toward delivering urgently needed supplies such as shelter kits, water filters and blankets, as well as technical support to bolster the island’s recovery efforts.
In addition to the financial aid, UK relief supplies and specialist technical experts have been deployed to assist with the disaster response and recovery. The naval vessel HMS Trent has been pre-positioned in the Caribbean region to provide logistical and operational support, the UK government said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions: “The scenes of destruction emerging from Jamaica are truly shocking.”
Scale of the Disaster in Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of up to 295 km/h (185 mph), making it the strongest storm ever recorded on the island. Communications remain severely impaired and much of the true scale of the disaster has yet to be fully determined. Reports suggest that nearly three-quarters of the country lost electricity overnight, and large swathes of western Jamaica remain submerged or heavily damaged. Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared the country a “disaster area” and warned of significant damage to hospitals, homes and infrastructure.
UK Nationals in Jamaica and Consular Support
With up to 8,000 British nationals understood to be in Jamaica — either on holiday or visiting family — the FCDO has urged those affected to register their presence through the official channel. A specialist FCDO team has travelled to Miami to provide consular assistance to British citizens in the region and the UK government has stressed that supporting the safety and welfare of its nationals is a priority.
Wider Regional Impacts & Recovery Challenges
While Jamaica is central to the UK’s emergency funding, the effects of Hurricane Melissa are being felt across the Caribbean, including Cuba and Haiti. For example, flooding in Haiti has killed dozens and left hundreds of homes destroyed. The broader context underscores how the UK’s aid to Jamaica forms part of a larger regional response to one of the most intense storms of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The FCDO has pointed out that while cash donations to trusted relief organisations are the most effective way to help, unsolicited goods may burden already-stretched logistics chains.
What Comes Next: Recovery and Aid Delivery
The £2.5 million UK aid will be used to ensure that emergency shelter, clean water and basic supplies reach the most affected communities quickly. The UK government has indicated that it stands ready to deploy further resources and coordination support if required. As access improves, the true scale of damage and humanitarian need will become clearer, and the recovery effort in Jamaica is expected to be a lengthy and complex endeavour.
