Aid organisation Samaritan’s Purse has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) together with significant amounts of relief supplies to Jamaica within the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
So far not less than 19 people have been confirmed dead in consequence of the Category 5 storm. Significant property destruction has occurred and plenty of parts of the island remain without power. Clean water and food are also briefly supply in some areas.
Hurricane Melissa is essentially the most powerful storm within the region on record and in addition killed not less than 30 people in Haiti.
Samaritan’s Purse said it had airlifted its DART team and the supplies to Jamaica from North Carolina, with more employees and supplies to follow.
The group began preparing for the airlift last weekend when it became clear that the hurricane was growing in strength. Among the supplies are water filtration systems, solar lights and materials for constructing shelters.
Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse, said, “Hurricane Melissa has pummelled Jamaica and left tens of 1000’s of families in urgent need of help. We are heartbroken for the lives which have been lost and are grieving with those that woke up without their family members today.
“Our teams began preparing before the storm even made landfall, and we at the moment are on the way in which with life-saving aid. Please join me in praying for the people of Jamaica and for our staff as they respond in Jesus’ Name.”
The water filtration systems are able to providing water for as much as 10,000 people.
The devastation brought by the hurricane initially made it difficult to bring aid into the island nation, nevertheless Kingston’s airport is basically operational following the storm, allowing greater levels of aid in.
The charity is working at the side of the Jamaican Ministry of Health and greater than 250 local churches to succeed in those in need.
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