The United Kingdom has stepped up its response to the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, by orchestrating evacuation flights for British nationals and pledging substantive humanitarian support.

A UK-chartered flight is scheduled to depart from Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport on Saturday to evacuate Britons stranded on the island, where infrastructure has been severely damaged and at least eight deaths have been recorded.

London announced an emergency humanitarian fund of £2.5 million (approximately US$3.3 million) and later extended regional assistance to a total of £7.5 million.

The funds will support shelter kits, water-filtration systems, blankets and coordination teams deployed across the region.

The UK also established a 24-hour crisis-centre to assist British nationals in Jamaica and deployed specialist rapid-deployment teams to the Caribbean.

The disaster has shocked Jamaica’s southwest, where whole communities were described as “marooned and flattened” by Hurricane Melissa.

The storm knocked out electricity to about 75 per cent of the island and caused blocked roads, landslides and severe damage to hospitals, including the near-total loss of services at one facility.

British tourists and dual nationals—estimated at up to 8,000—were advised to register with the Foreign Office’s “Register Your Presence” portal and to follow local-authority instructions.

The UK government emphasised that British-chartered flights would prioritise the most vulnerable passengers, including those with medical needs and children, while urging able travellers to use commercial options where available.

Travel-operators and airlines had already cancelled flights in the wake of the destruction, complicating returns for many visitors.

In Mallorca’s aftermath, aid convoys—comprising seven trucks supplied by diaspora groups and foreign governments—were dispatched from Kingston to Jamaica’s hardest-hit Black River region.

Relief agencies warned that impassable roads and power outages would hamper distribution of assistance even as more supplies arrive via helicopter and ship.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper underscored that more information on the devastation has emerged, justifying the increase in UK funding.

She said the government remains “ready to mobilise resources at the request of Jamaica” and highlighted the presence of a Royal Navy vessel ready to assist.

As Jamaica begins to assess long-term recovery needs, the UK’s actions signal a strong commitment to both British nationals abroad and Caribbean partners in crisis.

With flights underway and relief committed, the immediate challenge now lies in reaching isolated communities and restoring basic services across the island.