Jamaica Red Cross: shelters stocked before Hurricane Melissa

On 24 October 2025 the Jamaica Red Cross drew CHF 80,000 (about J$16 million) from the IFRC's Disaster Response Emergency Fund to act before Hurricane Melissa made landfall. It pre-positioned 250 shelter kits, 250 hygiene kits and 250 cleaning kits, plus tarps and drinking water, at branches and designated shelters. Teams helped prepare emergency shelters in schools, community centres and churches across eight parishes, from St Elizabeth to Portland. Trained volunteers were placed on standby with communications equipment, vehicles and safety gear, ready to switch to shelter management and damage assessment after the storm.