India Extends Humanitarian Aid to Jamaica and Cuba After Hurricane Melissa's Fury

India's Support for Hurricane-Affected Nations

New Delhi: In a show of solidarity with its partners in the Global South, India has sent 20 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) supplies to Jamaica and Cuba to aid in their recovery from Hurricane Melissa.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on social media, "We have dispatched 20 tonnes of HADR relief materials for Jamaica and Cuba following Hurricane Melissa. An Indian Air Force flight carrying essential supplies, including the Arogya Maitri BHISHM Cube, food, medical supplies, power generators, and hygiene kits, has taken off from New Delhi today."

Despatched 20 tonnes each of HADR relief materials for Jamaica and Cuba in the aftermath of #HurricaneMelissa.@IAF_MCC flight carrying aid including Aarogya Maitri BHISHM Cube, rehabilitation support items, food & daily utilities, medicines, medical equipment, power generators,… pic.twitter.com/7efkWDtbA8

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 4, 2025

He further emphasized, "India stands with our Global South partners during such natural calamities and is committed to assisting our friends in their recovery and rebuilding efforts."

Hurricane Melissa, recorded as one of the most powerful storms in the Atlantic, wreaked havoc across the Caribbean, resulting in numerous fatalities and isolating communities.

The hurricane made landfall in Jamaica on October 28 as a Category 5 storm, marking the most intense hurricane in the island's history.

It inflicted severe damage to infrastructure, knocked down power lines, and left a significant portion of the nation without electricity.

Many regions remain unreachable, and the extent of the destruction is still being evaluated.

In response, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a disaster in Jamaica, prompting emergency teams to initiate rescue and relief operations.

The hurricane's eye passed over the western parishes of the island, sparing the capital, Kingston, from the worst effects.

Cuba experienced the storm's impact on October 29 as it made landfall as a "very dangerous" Category 3 hurricane, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Cuban officials reported considerable damage, with rising river levels affecting around 140,000 individuals.

After impacting Cuba, the storm moved into the Atlantic, causing further destruction in the Bahamas.