Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica – In the rural farming community of Belmont, nestled in the southern parish of Saint Elizabeth, the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl is a stark reminder of nature’s unforgiving power. Rosemary White, a 56-year-old farmer, sits on a plastic chair amid the remnants of her home, her eyes reflecting the despair of losing everything she has built over the past three decades. “It was a devastating time of my life, everything is gone. It is a disaster,” she laments, surrounded by water-soaked mattresses, clothes, broken furniture, and shattered dreams.
Rosemary and her family are small farmers who made a living primarily from poultry, pigs, and goats. This livelihood was abruptly halted when Hurricane Beryl ravaged the island on 3 July. She now lives with her sister, her daughter, her son, and her granddaughter, solely relying on family support. “I do not know what to do now, I really want to come back here, but I need some help to repair my house and poultry,” she remarks, staring at her broken roof as rain poured into little of what remained of her home.
The wreckage of Nakaya’s house in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
Hurricane Beryl tore off the roof of Carol’s house and destroyed her livelihoods. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
IOM staff assesses one of the businesses heavily damaged by Hurricane Beryl in Manchester, Jamaica. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
Rosemary sits in her damaged house one month after Hurricane Beryl tore through Jamaica. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
The impact of Hurricane Beryl
Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, made landfall on 3 July, leaving a trail of destruction across Jamaica’s agricultural heartland. The storm caused an estimated USD 6.5 billion in damage, affecting approximately 45,000 farmers across the southern parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, and Saint Elizabeth.
Beryl took out its fury on farms, with staple crops such as plantains, yams, cassava, breadfruit, ackee, mangoes, and bananas decimated. The fishing and livestock industries also suffered significant losses. Compounding the challenges in southern Jamaica, electrical service continues to be disrupted as some power lines are still in need of repair.
Nakaya, a 44-year-old farmer, recalls the terrifying moments as the hurricane tore through his village. "When it got very strong, I put my mum under the bed. I was a bit shaken when my roof was torn off and the only thing I saw was water, and the sky,” he says. Nakaya lost his livelihood, including 100 chickens that provided for his 67-year-old mother, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. Now, with only the walls of his house standing, he is determined to rebuild and seek support.
Destroyed house and debris in Great Bay village, after Hurricane Beryl. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
IOM staff talks to Nakaya in front of his destroyed house. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
What used to be Nakaya's poultry farm was washed away along with 100 chickens. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
One of the homes heavily damaged by hurricane Beryl in Manchester, Jamaica. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
Efforts to rebuild and recover
According to Government of Jamaica estimates, Hurricane Beryl damaged 8,700 houses. Jamaica’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security has announced monetary rehabilitation grants for people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, and also for 500 microbusiness operators whose livelihoods have been lost. The government has also said it intends to prioritize the reconstruction and restoration of schools and hospitals.
The UN, through its emergency arm OCHA, has pledged USD 4 million in Emergency Recovery funding to support the Government of Jamaica's activities.
Working alongside the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is part of a wider UN effort to help Jamaicans recover from Beryl and build resilience against future storms.
“IOM is committed to supporting the most affected communities in Jamaica, which the hurricane has severely impacted. Our field teams are actively working to assess the damage with the aim of repairing their roofs and restoring their normal way of life," says Natasha Greaves, IOM's interim Head of Office in Jamaica.
Aerial view of Nakaya’s damaged house. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
IOM staff talking to the affected population in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
Jamaicans have been displaced from their homes and their livelihoods destroyed. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
IOM staff on an assessment mission with local partners to plan the repair of houses and shelters. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
IOM’s efforts will help 1,500 households in the most affected areas of Jamaica with roof replacements and repairs, along with replacement and repairs to windows and doors and plumbing, as well as rewiring electrical systems. IOM will also help reconstruct three community shelters. These initiatives are crucial for families like Rosemary's, who are eager to return to their homes and restore their livelihoods.
As Jamaica grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the resilience and determination of its farming community shines through. But the looming threat of climate change adds a layer of uncertainty to their future. “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 storms.
A Jamaican resident repairs the roof of a local business after Hurricane Beryl. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
A resident explains how her roof was torn off by Hurricane Beryl. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
Hurricane Beryl destroyed thousands of houses in Jamaica, causing a major impact on southern communities. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
An aerial shot of houses destroyed during the height of Hurricane Beryl in Jamaica. Photo: IOM/Gema Cortes
This story was written by Gema Cortes, IOM Media and Communications Unit, Office of the Special Envoy for the Regional Response to the Venezuela Situation.
