KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has played a pivotal role in enhancing Jamaica’s disaster response capabilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation on October 28. According to Rogerio Mobilia, OCHA’s Regional Deputy Director, a specialized team was immediately deployed to the Caribbean nation to facilitate coordinated relief operations among international partners and national authorities.
Mobilia, speaking after a strategic briefing at Jamaica’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), emphasized that OCHA’s intervention focused on two critical areas: coordination and information management. The team worked closely with both international agencies and Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to establish clear operational priorities, sector responsibilities, and needs assessment protocols.
“Our initial objective was to create consensus within the international community and systematically capture their operational data,” Mobilia explained to JIS News. “This allowed us to identify geographic coverage gaps, align sector-specific approaches, and eliminate duplication of efforts.”
Over their five-week deployment, OCHA’s team transformed initial generic damage assessments into detailed, sector-specific intelligence products. This evolution enabled more structured coordination meetings and collaborative reporting between national authorities and international partners. Mobilia noted significant progress in how relief efforts became increasingly targeted toward addressing the population’s most pressing needs.
Before departing the island on December 5, Mobilia expressed satisfaction with the strengthened coordination mechanisms established during OCHA’s mission, which have left Jamaica with enhanced disaster response capabilities for future emergencies.