Hurricane Melissa: A French ship delivers 40 tons of humanitarian aid to Jamaica

France deploys emergency aid to Jamaica after the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa

A French military vessel delivered 40 tons of humanitarian aid, half of which was donated by the United Nations, to Jamaica, which was hit by Hurricane Melissa , the French Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

“An overseas support and assistance vessel of the French Armed Forces in the Antilles (FAA) delivered 40 tons of humanitarian aid to Kingston today,” half of which was donated by the United Nations, a ministry spokesperson said. “The cargo consists of essential kits for 500 families and two water treatment units” from the French Red Cross, he added. The FAA vessel also carried emergency supplies from the World Food Programme and UNICEF, among other organizations.

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, has killed at least 28 people in Jamaica, where it made landfall, according to a new toll released by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, which is likely to rise. In total, Melissa devastated entire regions of Jamaica and flooded Haiti and Cuba.