Operation Blessing Aids Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa Destruction

Most natural disasters stay in the news and the minds of the public only until the next one strikes and dominates the headlines. Many residents of Jamaica, however, are still picking up the pieces after last fall’s devastating Hurricane Melissa.

One mother, Sasha, tried to keep her children safe by letting them stay at a friend’s home that she believed would offer more protection. She stayed behind to watch over what she could, until the storm tore into her house. “The wind came inside and went up and burst the roof,” she said.

Sasha escaped through a window and raced to find her children. When she reached them, she discovered her friend’s home also was losing its roof.

Sasha and her children survived, but their home and much of their community were left in ruins, forcing her to piece together a makeshift shelter. Soon, another crisis set in. There was no reliable source of food or clean water.

Operation Blessing was among the first humanitarian organizations to reach Jamaica after the hurricane. Others would follow, including Samaritan’s Purse, which set up a field hospital in Black River that included medical teams and water filtration systems.  and set up a nearby relief base. World Vision, another global humanitarian group, worked with local pastors to distribute aid. Catholic Relief Services has a permanent presence on the island and used their vast network of parishes to provide food, water, and shelter.

All four ministries remain active in hurricane response on the island even as spring is around the corner.

But for Sasha, the moment her despair ended when she connected with Operation Blessing.

Sasha described the moment she saw the Operation Blessing sign with visible relief. At the base, workers handed out water and breakfast to those arriving for help. Sasha and her children received a warm welcome, hot meals and vital necessities, including solar lights to help them through the difficult days after the storm. Operation Blessing also provided medical aid for those who needed care in the aftermath.

“For me, I saw hope,” she said. “Because I can see that there are others that still care for us. It’s like a home away from home. As a mom, that’s the most awesome thing to know — that there is help out there to assist with getting my children something to eat so that they won’t have to go hungry.”

Beyond meeting immediate needs, Operation Blessing also is working to help rebuild homes and communities in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa. The organization continues to stand with families as they recover and take steps toward long-term restoration.

Observers in Jamaica say the combination of US-based Christian relief organizations like Operation Blessing, working with local churches, continues to be a powerful force in rebuilding.

“Our churches are an essential part of our communities and indeed our nation and they too have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa.” — stated Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Facebook.

To learn more or to support this ongoing work, visit www.ob.org.

–Alan Goforth