The UK has announced an extra £5 million in humanitarian funding to help Jamaica and the Caribbean recover from Hurricane Melissa. The UK government has pledged an extra £5 million to support recovery efforts in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands after Hurricane Melissa caused widespread damage across the region.

The new funding follows a £2.5 million aid package announced earlier this week, bringing the UK’s total support to £7.5 million. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the extra money will be used to provide food, clean water, and emergency shelter for families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the hurricane.

Officials said the package includes more than 3,000 shelter kits and 1,500 solar lamps for communities still without electricity. A portion of the funds, worth up to £1 million, will be used to match public donations and will go toward the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies appeal to support Jamaica.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the decision to increase funding came as more information revealed the full scale of destruction across the island.

“More information is now coming through on the scale of devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, with homes damaged, roads blocked and lives lost,” she said. “That is why the UK government is now increasing our funding for humanitarian support to ensure we can get shelter kits, solar lamps and sanitation products to those who need it most.”

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, bringing winds of up to 185 miles per hour and torrential rain that caused flooding, landslides and widespread power cuts. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, and several communities remain cut off due to blocked roads and damaged bridges.

The Foreign Office said that UK aid experts are working closely with Caribbean governments, the United Nations, and local agencies to deliver emergency relief. The Royal Navy ship HMS Trent has also been deployed to the region to help with logistics and transport essential supplies to hard-to-reach areas.

Humanitarian workers on the ground say food, water and medical supplies are running low in some of the worst affected communities. Shelters across Jamaica are housing thousands of displaced residents, many of whom have lost everything.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies welcomed the UK’s contribution, describing it as a vital step in helping families rebuild. “This support from the UK will make a real difference for people in Jamaica and across the Caribbean who are struggling to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa,” a spokesperson said.

The UK government said part of the new funding will be used to provide clean drinking water, sanitation products and temporary shelter to help prevent disease outbreaks. British consular teams have also been deployed to assist UK nationals affected by the storm and to help with evacuations where necessary.

The hurricane’s impact has highlighted the vulnerability of Caribbean nations to extreme weather, with officials warning that stronger storms are becoming more common due to climate change. Experts say that recovery from Hurricane Melissa will take months, with rebuilding homes, schools, and key infrastructure expected to cost hundreds of millions of pounds.

In a statement, the FCDO said it will continue to assess the situation and work with international partners to ensure that the most vulnerable people receive support. “The UK stands in solidarity with Jamaica and all those affected across the Caribbean,” the statement said.

The government also urged the British public to support ongoing appeals and said it will match donations to the Red Cross up to £1 million.

As recovery efforts continue, Yvette Cooper said the UK will remain committed to helping communities rebuild and prepare for future disasters. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this devastating hurricane,” she said. “We will continue to work with partners to provide the support needed for recovery and resilience.”

The extra funding makes the UK one of the first international donors to scale up its aid for Jamaica following the storm, as the country begins what is expected to be a long and difficult recovery.

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