Jamaica Receives Aid From 31 Nations as Hurricane Melissa Death Toll Climbs to 45 Says Minister

The official death toll from Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage over Jamaica has climbed to 45, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth & Information Senator Dana Dixon confirmed on Tuesday morning. The update came as the government continues assessing the full scope of the storm’s destruction and mobilising national and international aid.

Fatalities were reported across seven parishes: Hanover (2), Westmoreland (15), St. James (6), Trelawny (2), St. Ann (1), Portland (1), and St. Elizabeth (18)—with Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth emerging as the hardest hit in both lives lost and infrastructure damage. “In terms of post-mortems, they have been able to conduct 33 to date, and there are some that they are waiting to do,” Dixon said during the press briefing. “Those are 45 families that are hurting deeply. As we look at that number, we pray for those families.”

Despite the mounting toll, the minister highlighted significant progress in recovery efforts. Over 170 donors have registered on Jamaica’s national relief portal, while 40 bilateral partners—representing 40 countries—are assisting with the recovery drive. Of these, 31 nations have already sent aid, marking one of the largest coordinated support responses in recent years. On the education front, 526 schools have reopened, signaling early signs of stability in affected communities.

Financial aid continues to pour in through official channels. The Support Jamaica platform (supportjamaica.gov.jm) has collected US $1.08 million, while another JMD $53.218 million has been contributed via credit card donations as of Tuesday. Dixon assured that updated totals will soon reflect additional direct deposits.

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications & Transport Daryl Vaz also reported encouraging signs of recovery in the aviation sector. Between October 29 and November 10, the island’s airports handled 1,138 flights, including 499 commercial passenger, 369 cargo, relief, and military, and 270 private flights. Norman Manley International Airport accounted for 578 flights, while Sangster International Airport managed 369, underscoring a strong rebound in operations.

As relief efforts expand, focus now shifts to rebuilding homes, restoring critical infrastructure, and supporting families who lost loved ones. With donor engagement at a high and flights resuming steadily, Jamaica’s path to recovery after Hurricane Melissa is gaining momentum.