New York – The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is responding to the devastation from Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and will provide immediate relief to Jamaica with critically needed first-aid medical supplies, water, hygiene kits, and other essential humanitarian supplies as well as deploying its disaster relief experts to the island to take part in aid efforts and help respond to emerging needs. In addition, JDC is working with the Jewish community of Cuba on disaster relief and response to the emergency. JDC is monitoring the region to determine additional emergency aid it may provide. As the full extent of the destruction in the region becomes clear, JDC is drawing on its extensive experience responding to natural disasters in the Caribbean and around the world to urgently mobilize resources and launch an emergency fundraising campaign to meet the growing needs on the ground. To support JDC’s relief initiatives for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, please visit: www.JDC.org/HurricaneMelissa

“We are deeply saddened by the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and its impact on other parts of the Caribbean. Alongside our immediate emergency assistance, we extend our heartfelt prayers to the survivors as they mourn and start on the long road to recovery. We’ll be there together with them to provide care, healing, and support,” said JDC CEO Ariel Zwang.

JDC’s disaster relief programs are funded by its Disaster Fund and special appeals of the Jewish Federations of North America as well as tens of thousands of individual donors to JDC. JDC’s relief activities are coordinated with local and international partners.

JDC, which leads the Jewish community response to disaster and international development crises worldwide, has responded to previous natural disasters in the Caribbean, including the 2021 and 2010 earthquakes and 2016 Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, and the 2019 Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. JDC also responded to the 2025 earthquake in Myanmar, 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Morocco, 2022 flooding in Pakistan, the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and Asia, as well as natural disasters in Mozambique, Guatemala, Indonesia, and Mexico.

JDC also leads the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief (JCDR), made up of 49 mostly North American Jewish organizations that address disasters and development challenges worldwide.