Hurricane Melissa has left an estimated five million tonnes of debris in Jamaica, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The storm is regarded as “the most severe climate disaster in Jamaican history,” said Kishan Khoday, UNDP representative in the Caribbean nation. Initial estimates place the damage at approximately 30% of Jamaica’s GDP, with this figure expected to increase.
UNDP’s satellite data analysis shows that the debris includes 2.1 million tonnes of destroyed homes, 1.3 million tonnes of vegetation, and 1.4 million tonnes of personal belongings.
Khoday has urged the international community to act swiftly, warning that delays could lead to blocked roads, paralysed essential services, loss of income, and increased suffering for those most affected by the storm.
To date, Hurricane Melissa has resulted in 76 deaths across the Caribbean. A study by World Weather Attribution confirmed that human-induced climate change made the storm more intense and wetter.
