(MENAFN- Caribbean News Global) GEORGETOWN, Guyana – In the wake of hurricane Melissa's devastating impact, governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have dispatched aid and pledged financial support to assist in the response and recovery efforts in Jamaica. CARICOM Institutions, led by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), are leading the coordinated regional response.

On Sunday, 2 November, Dr Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica and chairman of CARICOM, confirmed that he met with“regional partners...to strengthen coordination around Jamaica's recovery”. Prime Minister Holness further stated the discussions,“focused on mobilising regional support, rebuilding resilient infrastructure, and safeguarding public health.”

The CDEMA coordinating unit is overseeing the overall management of the regional response. Executive director of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley, indicated that she is satisfied with the response thus far from the agency. To date, meetings have been convened with the Caribbean Development Partners group, which is a coordination platform that engages United Nations partners, the private sector, civil society and participating states.

A CDEMA Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT), comprising technical specialists from regional and international partners, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is in Jamaica and has begun to conduct multi-sectoral assessments which will inform the response and recovery efforts of the government of Jamaica. The team commenced assessments in the areas of agriculture, coastal and marine environment, education, emergency shelter, fisheries, health, housing and infrastructure, social protection, tourism, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

The CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), with a complement of military, police, and fire personnel from across the region, remains on standby for potential deployment to support civil authorities. Similarly, the CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) is prepared to assist with ongoing response and recovery operations.

CDB president, Daniel Best pledged the bank's full support to Jamaica as the country begins to assess and recover from widespread destruction. On his arrival in Kingston (on Friday), Best emphasised the importance of regional solidarity:“The CDB's mission is to stand shoulder to shoulder with Jamaicans in their hour of need,” he said, adding that the visit was centred on partnership.

He further noted that the recovery response by CARICOM and development partners is being strategically coordinated.“It is important for us to coordinate and determine what resources we have so that we can present the [government of Jamaica] with what is essentially a unified front so they can make informed decisions,” Best stated. He also underscored the importance of psychosocial support for Jamaican citizens and first responders, describing the effort as“a fully integrated post-disaster response.”

Other CARICOM institutions, such as the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), The University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), are also contributing to the recovery efforts to ensure a comprehensive and effective response.

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