UNESCO Fully Mobilized to Support Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Recovery

On 28 October 2025, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, marking the most powerful storm ever recorded to strike the country. The devastation is overwhelming, with extremely severe damage to infrastructure and profound economic repercussions.

The UN Country Team has been mobilized, and the UNESCO Office in Kingston is supporting national authorities, providing technical expertise in education, culture, and communication and information.

This includes programs for crisis and emergency situations, as well as contributions to post-disaster needs assessments, which are essential after a major natural catastrophe.

From 2 to 4 November, UNESCO participated in assessment missions led by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. In coordination with UNICEF, the focus was on evaluating the condition of educational facilities in various parishes.

In Saint Elizabeth, the hardest-hit area, the team visited Black River Primary and Infant School, the main academic institution in the parish capital. Significant structural damage has affected various schools in the region, and the UNESCO team saw evidence of destroyed textbooks, furniture and learning aids. Children and youth are temporarily unable to attend classes, compounding the emotional distress caused by the hurricane’s impact on the community.

In other parts of the country, the UNESCO teams were able to witness reading and literacy rooms demolished by strong winds, while critical sections of vocational schools were also impacted. Coordination with the Ministry of Education and other UN actors will be essential, in order to provide the vital necessary assistance in the aftermath of the hurricane.

In the cultural field, the Jamaican Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport has sought UNESCO’s support in designing and conducting a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). The assessment aims to evaluate the hurricane’s impact on cultural assets and develop strategies for restoration, conservation, and enhanced resilience. Of particular concern are the Blue and John Crow Mountains and the Archaeological Ensemble of 17th-Century Port Royal, both World Heritage sites, but also cultural sites in the West of the country.

Furthermore, UNESCO is collaborating with the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) and launched a rapid assessment of the media sector to guide recovery efforts. Through a structured survey, the objective is to assess how media outlets were affected in infrastructure, staffing, operations, finances, and programming, and to identify the support needed for continued operation and service to communities.

UNESCO is fully committed to supporting Jamaica’s recovery within its mandate and at every level. From schools to cultural heritage sites, our teams are working hand in hand with national authorities to ensure communities can rebuild stronger and more resilient than before. — Eric Falt, Regional Director and Representative of UNESCO