In response to Hurricane Melissa, which devastated Jamaica last fall, the American Friends of Jamaica raised over $10 million for relief efforts. The hurricane affected more than 1.5 million people, destroying infrastructure and causing an estimated $8.8 billion in damages. The organization is now focusing on rebuilding efforts in five impacted communities.

• 01Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, became the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica, affecting over 1.5 million people and causing $8.8 billion in damages.
• 02The American Friends of Jamaica activated its disaster-relief platform before the storm made landfall and raised over $10 million for recovery efforts.
• 03The organization launched the AFJ Rebuild Program, investing $1 million in each of five communities affected by the hurricane.
• 04Partnerships with local organizations enabled the distribution of nearly 1,500 gift cards to farmers for recovery efforts, with 88% utilization reported.
• 05Jamaica’s tourism minister praised the American Friends of Jamaica for its pivotal role in mobilizing resources and supporting recovery efforts.

The hurricane has severely impacted local communities, destroying infrastructure and livelihoods.