UPDATE - Monday, 24 Nov. 2025: shipment of donated goods to Jamaica
More than a week after Melissa, we are getting reports of people in Jamaica (esp. St Elizabeth) still suffering due to lack of shelter and even cases of starvation. There are two ways you can help:
Financial support
The UK government recommends monetary donations to the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), which will be used to purchase food and goods to help Jamaicans. The government will match any donation made through this link: https://donate.redcrossredcrescent.org/ifrc/hurricane-melissa/~my-donation?_cv=1
Donating items of urgent need
The African Caribbean Research Group is coordinating non-financial donations to send to Jamaica to help people affected by the devastation of hurricane Melissa. Donations can be dropped off at the NCI, 1 Holland Street, Cambridge CB4 3DL – please email info@acrgcambridge.org in advance to check time and availability of volunteers or for any other information. All donations will be first delivered to one of the national collection points in London, to be then shipped to Jamaica. You can see a list of items donated so far here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yB9x0yp2t6o8pwCLxsndpJgSL7z8QuCnl8EzIQ1UsUc/edit?usp=sharing
It is expected aid will take 3 to 5 weeks to reach people in need. Even if this is going to be weeks after the hurricane, all kit will still be used because of the number of people affected and the difficulty to deliver the quantity of aid needed.
If you wish to make a donation, this is a list of the most critical items needed:
Shelter items
- Batteries – AA, AAA, C, D (this size being the most needed)
- Bedding foams
- Sleeping mats
- Cots
- Flashlights
- Lanterns – solar or battery powered
- Mattresses
- Pillows
- Pillowcases
- Ropes/bungee cords
- Tarpaulins (UV treated, waterproof, reinforced edged, with eyelets)
- Mobile storage units/quick erect shelters
- Small water containers
Water sanitation and hygiene
- Buckets with lids
- Collapsible water storage containers
- Heavy-duty garbage bags
- Hygiene kits
- Water purification kits
- Water storage tanks
Debris clearance
- Hammers/sledge hammers
- Heavy-duty gloves
- Helmets/hard hats
- Rain gear/coats
- Safety vests
- Safety goggles/face shields
- Shovels
- spades
- Hard-toe boots
- Water boots
Environmental health
- Chlorine
- Turbidity meters
- Chlorine tablets
- DPD testing tables
- Long rubber gloves (for sampling)
- Presence absence Coliform kits
- Sample bottles (for water quality testing)
Agriculture
- Feed (cattle, small ruminants, pigs)
- Seeds (cabbage, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, beans, tomatoes, watermelons, lettuce etc.)
- Mesh wire
- Barbed wire
- Hoes
- Metal cutters
- Shovels
- Spades
- Fishing nets
- Potting mix
- Fertilizer
- Antiviral nets
Food
- Meals ready-to-eat (MREs)
- Disposable utensils and plates
- Food containers / lunch boxes
- Food storage bins / airtight drums
- Portable stoves / butane burners
- Fuel canisters for stoves
Misc
- Disposable gloves, masks, gowns
- Hand sanitizer / disinfectant wipes
- Towels and washcloths
- First aid kits
- Basic OTC medications (painkillers, antihistamines, etc.)
- N95 dust masks
- Bleach
- Battery-powered or crank radios
- Whistles
- Message boards
- Labelling kits / waterproof markers
- Cargo straps
- Rescue drones with thermal cameras
- Trauma kits, surgical supplies and PPEs
- Water purification units
- VHF/UHF repeaters and radio systems
- Portable refrigeration
- solar power kits and battery banks