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Caribbean Deep in Recovery Mode after Melissa Relief supplies are pouring into Jamaica as the country begins to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The catastrophic storm is now downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 85 mph. Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said on Friday that more than 20 cargo flights are expected as international aid pours in. “The biggest challenge now is managing logistics to reach the worst-affected areas,” he said in a morning briefing. Vaz confirmed that eight to ten US helicopters are on their way to support the operation. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay sustained damage due to its proximity to the hurricane’s path but will reopen for commercial flights on Saturday to allow tourists to leave the island. Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said approximately 7,000 people remain in 430 shelters across the island, down from a peak of more than 15,000 during the storm. By Thursday night, at least 50 deaths had been attributed to the storm. In Jamaica, 19 deaths have been confirmed, but the number is expected to increase, said Jamaican Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Dana Morris Dixon at a news conference on Friday. Authorities in Haiti said Thursday that at least 30 people were killed in the storm and 20 more were missing. At least 23 people, including 10 children, died due to floods in Petit-Goâve, a coastal town where a river burst its banks.
