Khalsa Aid Responds to Hurricane Melissa: Emergency relief for Jamaica
Communities Devastated by Hurricane Melissa
When Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, tore through Jamaica, it left a trail of devastation across the island. Thousands of families have been displaced, homes destroyed, and entire communities cut off without power, clean water, or communication.
Khalsa Aid Delivers Emergency Aid
Khalsa Aid International delivered emergency aid to those most affected in Western Jamaica. We have been working in collaboration with The Salvation Army, Jamaican Defence Force and The Rotary Club of Kingston. We have distributed over 860 hygiene kits, 860 food parcels, and 14,400 litres of clean drinking water, to families, reaching more than 4,000 people so far.
Roads Blocked and Communities Cut Off
Across areas like Montego Bay and Black River, roads were blocked by landslides and fallen trees, and aid agencies faced challenges reaching remote communities. Khalsa Aid teams coordinated closely with local authorities, The Salvation Army, The Rotary Club of Kingston and community groups to ensure help reaches where it’s needed most.
Khalsa Aid also identified communities which are in dire need of support and haven’t been reached by other organisations. The situation has been devastating, especially in West Jamaica, where people were cut off with no electricity and no signal on their cellphones.
24-hour Packing and Distribution Efforts
After the hurricane hit Jamaica, Khalsa Aid teams landed within days to begin emergency response. Working hand in hand with local grassroots organisations such as The Salvation Army and The Rotary Club of Kingston, our teams carried out detailed assessments to understand the most pressing needs on the ground.
These local partners have been instrumental in identifying essential aid items, which our teams have been procuring through local suppliers to ensure the best rates and fastest delivery. Within just a few days of securing supplies, including food, clean water, and hygiene products, our volunteers, together with the Jamaican Defence Force and local community organisations, spent 24–36 hours packing and loading truckloads of aid bound for the hardest-hit regions.
Khalsa Aid UK along with other chapters in Canada and Australia are contributing further resources and procurement support to strengthen this global relief effort.
From Emergency Response to Long-Term Recovery
This stage marks the initial emergency phase, focused on immediate survival needs. As assessments continue, our teams are exploring how best to support shelter and long-term recovery in partnership with local organisations.
“When countries like Jamaica are hit, we need all hands-on deck — global partners, organisations, and communities working together. Even as crises unfold elsewhere, we must not switch off from smaller nations that need our collective support. Khalsa Aid remains committed, whether in the immediate response or the long-term recovery.”
Standing in Solidarity with Jamaica
As a global humanitarian organisation, Khalsa Aid recognises the importance of collective response. When smaller nations like Jamaica face crises of this scale, international solidarity is crucial. Although the world continues to experience multiple man-made and natural disasters, we must continue to support places like Jamaica, ensuring their struggles are not forgotten once global headlines shift elsewhere.
For over two decades, Khalsa Aid has responded to disasters across the world — from earthquakes in Türkiye to floods in Panjab and refugee crises in the Middle East. Today, we stand in solidarity with the people of Jamaica, committed to bringing hope and humanity in the face of crisis.
Every donation makes a direct difference, helping us provide food, clean water, and essential support to those who need it most.
How You Can Help
Every contribution, big or small, enables us to deliver food, clean water, and essential aid to families affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Your support helps us bring relief, dignity, and hope to Jamaica.
Note: Funds raised through this appeal will be used to support the Jamaica Relief 2025 project. If we raise more than is required for this project, or if the project cannot be completed within two years, the Trustees reserve the right to allocate any remaining funds to other charitable activities of Khalsa Aid International that pursue similar humanitarian aims.
Impact So Far
Figures are updated with every deployment. The true impact is often far greater than what can be measured.
People Supported so far
Food parcels Distributed
Hygiene kits distributed