Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa

At the beginning of March, GER³ officially launched a formal recovery program in Jamaica in response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa in October, 2025. Our work will benefit over 10,000 individuals through home repair, debris removal, education services, and shelter kit distribution.

 GER³ secured of funding until the end of June from the International Organization of Migration (IOM). The program will provide support for 450 households and distribute 660 shelter kits and vouchers, along withoutreach to 10,000 households through technical shelter awareness activities to better prepare Jamaicans for future hurricanes. Such activities reflect our dual approach to disaster relief; GER³ bridges the humanitarian gap by pairing immediate relief with long-term community reconstruction and preparedness to prevent the community from receiving disjointed humanitarian care.

GER³ first responded to Hurricane Melissa immediately following the storm’s initial impact in Jamaica. In the concluding months of 2025, our team employed 21 team members through our Cash for Work (C4W) program. We cleared over 930 m³ of debris in Parottee Bay, Bull Savanna, and Treasure Beach. We also helped community fishermen recover their boats and conduct repairs that can cost up to $2,200. Our services benefited over 3,500 individuals in our short time on the island. GER³ team members returned home at the end of November as we finalized funding for a long-term program.

Our 2026 services will be directed within St. Elizabeth Parish, particularly the towns of Alltentown, Hilltop, Parottee, and their surrounding communities. The households who receive GER³ repairs will be chosen through a detailed assessment process which ensures that they meet our vulnerability criteria. We intend to provide services to the most vulnerable community members who cannot independently rebuild their homes or access financial support to do so.