2025 © AP Photo/Matias Delacroix
Jamaica
MSF supplies arrive in Jamaica to help people affected by Hurricane Melissa
A cargo shipment of medical supplies, tarpaulins, and other essential non-food items from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF) reached Jamaica yesterday, to help people affected by the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28.
MSF emergency teams arrived in Jamaica last weekend and are actively assessing the most imminent needs, including in remote areas where people have been completely cut off due to road damage. They are also assessing the extensive damage to regional hospitals and health care centers.
Our Work in Jamaica
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the devastating Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, causing flooding and widespread destruction. The hurricane is now affecting Cuba and other countries in the region.
While Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is not currently present in Jamaica, we are preparing to send emergency teams specializing in health care, logistics, and water and sanitation when possible, as the airport remains closed as of October 29. Our teams are also preparing to send supplies such as medical kits, non-food items, and critical materials for the provision of safe water, depending on the needs identified.
What's happening in Jamaica?
Natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis can cause widespread destruction and mass displacement, as well as create ideal environments for the spread of disease. Places experiencing conflict, disease outbreaks, or economic instability are particularly vulnerable, as the effects of natural disasters can exacerbate existing crises.
How MSF responds to natural disasters
MSF is often one of the first organizations on the ground when a natural disaster strikes. Our teams travel by car, train, boat, or helicopter to dispatch mobile clinics to areas in and around disaster zones, providing displaced people with medical and psychological first aid, essential relief items like tents and blankets, and routine health care for people with chronic conditions. We also mobilize our global logistics network to support local health facilities with essential medicines and supplies and help local staff provide specialized treatment.
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Learn about MSF’s journalistic roots and our commitment to bear witness and speak out about the plight of the people we treat.
Learn about MSF’s journalistic roots and our commitment to bear witness and speak out about the plight of the people we treat.