Britain Evacuates 8,000 Citizens from Hurricane-Hit Jamaica

Strategic Insights -

The first charter flight evacuating Britons from Jamaica after the Category 5 hurricane devastated the island was set to take off on Saturday. Around 8,000 British citizens are stranded on the Caribbean island, with devastating consequences. Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Tuesday with 185mph winds, leaving 19 people dead and reducing historic southwestern town Black River to ruins, with up to 90 per cent of structures without roofs.

Key Takeaways:

  • A total of 8,000 British citizens are stranded on Jamaica after the hurricane.
  • The Foreign Office chartered a flight for those unable to fly home commercially, which will depart from Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport.
  • People with medical needs and children, British nationals and their immediate family members, and members of the Windrush generation will be given priority for evacuation.
  • The UK government has announced two emergency humanitarian funding packages to Jamaica, totaling £7.5m, including £5m for a secondary tranche and £2.5m announced earlier in the week.
  • The funds will be used to deliver humanitarian aid, including shelter kits, solar-powered lanterns, and support for the disaster response.
  • King Charles and Queen Camilla have donated to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian appeal to support those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Statistics:

  • 8,000 British citizens are stranded on Jamaica after the hurricane.
  • 90 per cent of structures in Black River, a historic southwestern town, were left without roofs.
  • 77 per cent of Jamaica is still without power.
  • 35 per cent of mobile phone networks are working.
  • 13,000 people remained in shelters as of Friday.
  • £7.5m in emergency humanitarian funding has been provided by the UK government.
  • 3,000 shelter kits and 1,500 solar-powered lanterns were included in the package.
  • The UK has deployed technical experts and relief supplies to support the disaster response.

Sources:

  • The Guardian, "Britain evacuates 8,000 citizens from hurricane-hit Jamaica" (no date)
  • Reuters, "Hurricane Melissa brings devastation to Jamaica" (no date)
  • BBC News, "Jamaica: King Charles and Queen Camilla donate to Red Cross appeal" (no date)
  • The New York Times, "Jamaicans Gather in Market After Hurricane Strikes" (no date)
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, "Hurricane Melissa: Haiti, Jamaica and Dominican Republic" (no date)