Jamaica has secured a $6.7 billion international aid package over three years after Hurricane Melissa caused an estimated $8.8 billion in damages, major development banks announced Monday.The Caribbean island was hard hit by the hurricane's passage in late October and November. It was called the worst climate disaster in the country's history, with damages equivalent to 30 percent of Jamaica's GDP, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The storm spread nearly five million tons of debris, creating road blockages and disrupting access to basic services. The official death toll in Jamaica a week after the passage stood at 32 people.
"This coordinated effort reflects a unified commitment to help Jamaica pursue a fiscally responsible, long-term recovery," the institutions said in a joint statement.
The support from groups including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Inter-American Development Bank came at the request of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
The new package includes up to $3.6 billion in government financing, with the largest contributions coming from the CAF-Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank each providing up to $1 billion.
