Canada announces additional assistance and launches matching fund in response to Hurricane Melissa
News release
November 12, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), announced that Canada will match donations made to the Canadian Red Cross’s Hurricane Melissa Appeal. Every donation made by individuals to the Canadian Red Cross’s appeal retroactively from October 28, 2025, until November 24, will be matched, up to a total of $1.5 million.
These funds, which are being raised through the generosity of Canadians, will help the Red Cross Movement to support critical humanitarian needs including emergency health services as well as other essential support to impacted communities.
Secretary of State Sarai also announced that Canada is providing more than $2.5 million in additional funding to support the humanitarian response in Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, bringing Canada’s total humanitarian response to over $11 million in direct funding for Hurricane Melissa relief efforts.
As part of Canada’s commitment to support Jamaica’s sustainable recovery, Secretary of State Sarai also announced more than $6 million in funding for development assistance to support longer-term disaster recovery and preparedness efforts in Jamaica.
This funding will support partners, including Canadian partners, with established relationships and ongoing work in Jamaica, in the following areas:
- Strengthening climate resilience in the health sector while responding to the impacts of Hurricane Melissa; for example, by repairing facilities, replacing critical equipment and upgrading infrastructure for water, sanitation and hygiene services to better withstand future extreme weather events
- Strengthening the management of the ongoing hurricane response and future preparedness in areas such as emergency telecommunications, undertaking critical warehouse repairs and replenishing emergency warehouse supplies
- Fast-tracking food system recovery through support for the agricultural sector, such as by providing basic tools, equipment, and training to small-scale farmers and supporting investments in disaster risk planning and management
Today’s announcement brings Canada’s total support since the hurricane to over $17 million in humanitarian and development assistance. Canada will continue to stand with the people of the Caribbean as they recover and rebuild for a sustainable and prosperous future.
Quotes
“The full extent of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation is becoming clearer and Canada is stepping up its support. By matching donations, we’re also joining Canadians in supporting Red Cross partners on the ground that are delivering urgent and life-saving assistance to those hit hardest by Hurricane Melissa. Together, we’re doubling the impact and bringing hope and help to communities in crisis.”
- Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development)
Quick facts
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Canada’s total humanitarian response to Hurricane Melissa of over $11 million in funding is allocated as follows:
- $4.5 million to the World Food Programme to support emergency food and logistics in Jamaica and Cuba
- $1.5 million to the Canadian Red Cross for the matching fund announced today
- $1.5 million to Care Canada to support a multi-sector response in Jamaica and Cuba
- $1 million to the Pan-American Health Organization to support emergency health care in Jamaica
- Around $1 million to send relief items in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross to help the humanitarian response efforts in Jamaica and for the deployment of medical kits to Cuba
- $700,000 to Doctors Without Borders through an ongoing project to support the organization’s response in Jamaica
- $350,000 each to Plan Canada and Canadian Lutheran World Relief, members of the Humanitarian Coalition, for a total of $700,000, through an ongoing project to provide relief items and emergency shelter; protection services and water; and sanitation and hygiene services in Haiti
- $130,000 for the deployment of humanitarian experts through ongoing projects with CANADEM and the Canadian Red Cross
Associated links
Contacts
Shanti Cosentino
Director of Communications
Office of the Secretary of State (International Development)
Shanti.Cosentino@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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