Caribbean Issues is a weekly collection from Day by day Kos. Hope you’ll be a part of us right here each Saturday. In case you are unfamiliar with the area, try Caribbean Issues: Attending to know the nations of the Caribbean.
Given the quickly altering U.S. information cycle and the truth that Puerto Rico nonetheless has not recovered from 2017’s Hurricane Maria, we will do our half to assist Hurricane Melissa victims of their battle to rebuild by maintaining information and tales concerning the disaster seen.
I raised this problem again in November in “Caribbean Issues: Hurricane Melissa restoration will take a world effort.”
Caribbean American individuals quantity round 13 million within the U.S., however assist and help shouldn’t be linked solely to ancestry. Given the antipathy exhibited by the racist xenophobe presently occupying our White Home and the continued depredations of ICE, it’s extra necessary than ever that we carry our voices in solidarity and do what we will to help. If not with our wallets, we will use our voices on social media platforms.
Understandably, the media’s present Caribbean focus is on “Secretary of Conflict” Pete Hegseth’s murders and warmongering in Venezuela, which I’ll proceed to cowl right here. That doesn’t imply we must be ignoring Melissa’s horrible devastation and long-term restoration efforts.
I’ll spotlight hurricane assist efforts and as a lot associated data as I can right here at present, with much more hyperlinks within the feedback part beneath. Please add what sources you possibly can, and please repost as a lot data as attainable.
Simply as musicians united to boost funds for Puerto Rico after Maria, an analogous effort came about Friday evening on Lengthy Island at UBS Enviornment.
From Caribbean Information:
Jamaica Robust: Star-Studded Profit Live performance at UBS Enviornment to Assist Hurricane Melissa Victims
A Stellar Lineup for a Very important Trigger
The profit live performance is ready to function a formidable array of Grammy-winning and famend artists. Confirmed performers embody Shaggy, Sean Paul, Inside Circle, Marcia Griffiths, I-Octane, Richie Stephens, and Kes. Their participation underscores the occasion’s significance and the collective drive to assist these affected by the catastrophe.
[…]
The Jamaican restoration effort has been bolstered by beneficiant donations of provides, price billions of {dollars}. These donations come from governments, worldwide companies, and Diaspora teams. Clarke expressed optimism that the spirit of benevolence shall be on full show at Jamaica Robust.
“We wish to provoke all patriotic Jamaicans and pals of Jamaica within the New York tri-state space, throughout America, and all through the worldwide Diaspora. We would like everybody to be hyper-focused on the huge and pressing wants rising from what has really been an apocalyptic disaster for our island,” Clarke mentioned. “This live performance serves as a rallying level to unite our individuals round function, compassion, and decisive motion.”
I’ll hopefully be capable of publish clips from the live performance within the feedback part beneath.
Rank Information posted:
Following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaican artist Aiesha Barrett, daughter of Aston Barrett and niece of Carlton Barrett of Bob Marley and The Wailers, penned the track “Jamaica Robust” to unite and uplift her countrymen worldwide. The monitor, which naturally emerged from her emotional response to the destruction, has garnered over a million on-line views and change into an anthem for restoration efforts. Will probably be featured on the upcoming Jamaica Robust profit live performance in New York, headlined by Shaggy and Sean Paul, aiming to boost funds and spirits. Barrett expressed her preliminary aim was merely to supply hope, a sentiment echoed by the optimistic suggestions she has acquired, indicating the track is resonating deeply and fostering a way of unity and assurance for the island’s rebuilding course of.
Aiesha Barrett wrote the track “Jamaica Robust” in response to the devastation brought on by Hurricane Melissa.
The track has achieved over a million on-line views and is getting used as an anthem for restoration efforts.
“Jamaica Robust” shall be featured at a profit live performance in New York headlined by Shaggy and Sean Paul.
Hurricane Melissa induced an estimated $8.8 billion in injury to Jamaica.
Worldwide assist, together with as much as $6.7 billion from the IMF and an elevated £8 million from the UK authorities, is being made out there for Jamaica’s restoration.
Give it a hear:
Musicians within the UK are additionally elevating funds, as detailed in “84-track drum & bass compilation elevating assist funds for Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa launched”:
Artists together with London Elektricity, Ed Solo, Villem, Potential Badboy, Crate Classics, Muffler, Cool Hand Flex, Manifest, Black Barrel, Ink and extra are all featured on the discharge, which you’ll choose up from Bandcamp right here.
Final month, a two-part fundraising occasion, Dancing for Jamaica, came about at Brixton City Corridor and Brixton Storeys in London. Fabio & Grooverider, Jumpin’ Jack Frost, Booker T, Roy the Roach, Mr Shiver and Vanessa Freeman all carried out.
Hitting the Caribbean between Friday thirty first October and Tuesday 4th November, Hurricane Melissa turned the third strongest Atlantic storm system on document, and the strongest tropical cyclone of 2025 to date. Its influence was felt on plenty of islands, with 32 deaths reported in Jamaica together with many accidents and an estimated $7 billion in injury.
Again in 2022, Floodlight launched a 92-track drum & bass compilation in assist of Pakistan’s flood victims that ended up elevating round £23k.
Different artists like globally recognized dancehall/reggae artist Shenseea are engaged in reduction efforts.
These of us within the LGBTQ+ and ally group take word:
Shrinking public assist has strained native LGBTQ+ organisations throughout the area. Current cuts to U.S. authorities funding for worldwide civil society and human rights packages have eliminated a vital lifeline for group shelters and disaster providers, widening the hole that non-public donors should now assist to shut. Outright’s community permits donors to again community-led reduction that’s inclusive by design and attentive to real-time wants reported from the bottom.
Undoubtedly, this will increase the financial vulnerability of all weak teams. Outright’s emergency reduction response will assist to cushion among the instant impacts of the hurricane on LGBTQ individuals in Jamaica.
By sending funds on to our native associate organisations in Jamaica, Outright is making certain that they’re supported in addressing the pressing wants of Jamaica’s LGBTQ group. This aligns with Outright’s dedication to supply instant monetary help to LGBTQ communities impacted by humanitarian crises.
‘It is a second for velocity, belief, and accountability,’ shared Elise Colomer-Cheadle, Director of Growth at Outright Worldwide. ‘The primary $5,000 in presents made to the fund will double their influence due to a beneficiant match by the Linksbridge Basis. This cash will go the place it’s wanted most, via companions who know their communities. ‘
Allow us to not neglect to share concerning the different nations impacted by Melissa.
The UN’s World Meals Program highlighted a few of them on this publish”
WFP Expands Help Past Meals Distributions, Driving Restoration in Hurricane Melissa’s Wake
Cuba
Meals distributions have to date reached 340,000 individuals throughout the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Holguín.
The response continues to scale as much as attain as much as 900,000 individuals for six months. Of those, 450,000 of essentially the most weak shall be supplied with meals help for 12 months to help restoration.
One month on, 1000’s of persons are nonetheless with out electrical energy, clear water or enough shelter. The storm worn out an estimated 40% of Cuba’s vegetable manufacturing and inflicted extreme injury on its fishing trade.
Entry to some communities stays constrained resulting from tough terrain and floodwaters, which have slowed the response.
An outbreak of mosquito-borne ailments is affecting WFP workers and threatens to worsen situations for affected communities, including complexity to the emergency.Haiti
Hurricane Melissa has deepened an already complicated humanitarian disaster, the place half of the inhabitants faces meals insecurity amid widespread instability.
Properties, infrastructure and farmlands have been destroyed alongside the Haitian southern coast, affecting 1.25 million individuals. Greater than half 1,000,000 of those have been already extraordinarily meals insecure (IPC3+).
WFP has reached 139,000 individuals with meals rations and money help the place markets are accessible and functioning. This contains individuals who acquired anticipatory funds to assist them put together earlier than the hurricane hit.
WFP goals to help an extra 95,000 individuals throughout affected areas Regardless of rising insecurity and poor highway infrastructure which has slowed the response.
Meals help will proceed for an extra two months, adopted by early restoration efforts targeted on resilience constructing and infrastructure reconstruction to assist communities rebuild their livelihoods.
Some U.S. efforts to share:
Please be a part of me within the feedback part beneath for extra. Let’s get Hurricane Melissa help and data trending once more!
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