New Delhi [India], November 4 (ANI): India on Tuesday dispatched 20 tonnes of humanitarian aid each to Jamaica and Cuba aboard an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft to support the two Caribbean nations in their recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said.
Sharing details on X, Jaishankar announced that the relief consignment includes Aarogya Maitri BHISHM Cubes, rehabilitation supplies, food and daily utilities, medicines, medical equipment, power generators, shelter materials, and hygiene kits.
“Despatched 20 tonnes each of HADR relief materials for Jamaica and Cuba in the aftermath of #HurricaneMelissa. @IAF_MCC flight carrying aid including Aarogya Maitri BHISHM Cube, rehabilitation support items, food & daily utilities, medicines, medical equipment, power generators, shelter support and hygiene kits has departed from New Delhi today. India stands with our Global South partners in the face of such natural disasters and will assist our friends in recovery and reconstruction,” the EAM posted.
Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to hit the Caribbean in recent history, has claimed at least 50 lives across Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. Authorities fear the toll could rise further as rescue operations continue, Al Jazeera reported.
Striking Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, Melissa left a trail of destruction across the island. More than 60 per cent of Jamaica remains without electricity, and nearly half of its water systems are offline. Jamaica’s Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon confirmed 19 deaths, with reports suggesting up to five additional fatalities.
In Cuba, while no deaths have been reported, over 735,000 people were evacuated from the eastern provinces amid heavy flooding. The overflowing Cauto River forced emergency crews to conduct rescues using boats and military vehicles through waist-deep waters. Some areas received as much as 380 mm (15 inches) of rainfall, Al Jazeera said.
According to a study by Imperial College London, human-induced climate change made Hurricane Melissa about four times more likely, underscoring the growing vulnerability of island nations to extreme weather events.
India’s relief effort reaffirms its commitment to supporting Global South partners in times of crisis and advancing international solidarity in disaster response and reconstruction. (ANI)
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