Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Devastation Exposes Global Aid and Preparedness Failures

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on October 28, the destruction was unlike anything seen in decades. Entire communities were wiped out, trees snapped like twigs, and once-lush regions now resemble barren winter landscapes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness described the disaster as potentially the “disaster of the century” if not for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Yet beyond heartbreaking scenes of loss—the death toll has tragically reached at least twenty-eight—what stands out is the glaring failure of disaster preparedness and aid distribution that directly impacts America’s national security and economic interests. Jamaica, a key partner in the...