Canada’s foreign aid representative revealed a donation of $7 million in humanitarian aid for Caribbean nations impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Randeep Sarai, the secretary of state for international development, specified that $5 million will be allocated to urgent assistance provided by emergency response organizations and healthcare providers. The remaining $2 million will support the United Nations World Food Program in its distribution of essential supplies to Jamaica.
Sarai emphasized that Canada is ready to dispatch emergency relief items from its stockpile through the Red Cross if requested by the affected countries. The focus is on addressing immediate necessities and aiding the Caribbean region in the recovery phase following the devastating Category 5 storm, which resulted in numerous casualties in Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti.
In addition to the current relief efforts, Ottawa has previously financed programs aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness and logistics in countries like Jamaica. Furthermore, Canada is actively working on restructuring global institutions to enable Caribbean nations to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure.
The commitment to supporting hurricane-affected nations was demonstrated during a public announcement where Randeep Sarai, alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, declared the $7 million relief package for the affected islands. Sarai affirmed, “We’re standing with the Caribbean today.”
