Nov. 6 – In late October, Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm, impacted the Caribbean as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms to make landfall in the region in recorded history. It caused extreme devastation and loss of life, across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
In response to the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa so far, UMCOR has awarded solidarity grants to:
-the Jamaica District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA)
-the Haiti District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA)
-The Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba, an ACT Alliance partners in Cuba
-The Centro Cristiano de Reflexión y Diálogo, an ACT Alliance partners in Cuba
These emergency grants will assist with immediate needs, including food, water, temporary shelter, hygiene kits and over-the-counter medication.
UMCOR and its regional partners are conducting needs assessments and preparing for a coordination meeting in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, on November 18–21, to plan the next phase of relief and recovery.
We will remain in communication with the MCCA and our ACT Alliance partners in the region as relief efforts continue. We encourage you to continue to pray for those impacted and faithfully support relief and recovery efforts, as food insecurity and the risk of water-borne illnesses will increase in the coming months.
Donations to assist Hurricane Melissa response efforts can be made by clicking “Donate Now” below. Select “IDR – Hurricane Melissa” when asked to choose your preferred gift designation.