Surviving Beryl: How CERF-funded assistance helped the Caribbean rebuild

Jamaica | 2024 | CERF

In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm with 140 mph winds, devastated Jamaica, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, leaving entire communities in crisis. In Jamaica, Hurricane Beryl severely impacted farming communities, wiping out crops like plantains, yams and bananas, and causing massive losses in the fishing and livestock industries. Power outages persisted for weeks.

Approximately 45,000 people were affected, including 56-year-old farmer Rosemary White. “It was a devastating time in my life; everything is gone,” she lamented. Rosemary had to move in with her sister, along with her daughter, son and granddaughter, solely relying on family support.

In response to the devastating impact of the hurricane, CERF swiftly allocated over $4 million to the three countries, including $2.5 million to Jamaica alone, enabling UN agencies and partners to deliver much-needed emergency assistance, including food and shelter.

Thanks to funding from CERF and other donors, IOM assisted 1,500 households in Jamaica, including Rosemary’s, with replacements and repairs to damaged homes, such as rewiring electrical systems. A further three community shelters were rebuilt to support displaced families.

Working alongside the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica, IOM intervened as part of a wider UN effort, supported by CERF and other donors, to help Jamaicans recover from Beryl and build resilience against future storms.

This assistance is giving Rosemary a chance to rebuild her home. However, as Jamaica grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the looming threat of climate change continues to add a layer of uncertainty for the future livelihoods of Rosemary and others. “We have no more trees, so climate change is already affecting us,” notes Rosemary, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of future climate-related shocks.

Posted May 2025.
More information on CERF's work in 2024
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