Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
The League of African Ambassadors, whose general secretary is Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Ghana Kufa Chinoza, has started efforts to raise funds to help Caribbean nations, particularly Jamaica, to rebuild following the destruction brought by Hurricane Melissa.
The storm battered communities in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba for days, killing 50 people and leaving a trail of devastation.
It made landfall in Jamaica with huge force last Tuesday as a Category 5 storm and residents have been sifting through the wreckage, counting their losses and exploring ways to start the long road to recovery. Hurricane Melissa left 60 percent of Jamaica without electricity and some areas with up to 90 percent of roofs ripped.
In a statement, Ambassador Chinoza said the African diplomatic community stands with the Caribbean nations in their time of need.
“While oceans may separate us, the deep historical, cultural and ancestral bonds that unite Africa and the Caribbean are unbreakable,” he said.
“The pain of our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean is our pain. Their loss is our loss.”
Also signed by the League’s President, Ambassador Nwanne Ominyi, former Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia, the message reaffirmed Africa’s Pan-African commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with Caribbean nations as they rebuild from the tragedy.
As part of its response, the League launched the Hand of Friendship and Advocacy Initiative, a diplomatic effort aimed at mobilising international aid and strengthening long-term cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean.
Ambassador Chinoza said the initiative seeks to amplify calls for help, coordinate relief efforts and facilitate the deployment of specialised humanitarian agencies to affected regions.
The League further appealed to the United Nations, humanitarian organisations and international partners, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, to urgently dispatch emergency teams and technical experts to support recovery efforts.
Ambassador Chinoza called for the creation of an Africa-Caribbean Partnership on Climate Resilience to unite both regions in pursuit of climate justice and equitable access to climate financing.
“This tragedy must be a turning point. Small Island developing states and African nations bear the heaviest burden of a climate crisis they did almost nothing to create,” he said.
The League stressed that only global cooperation and sustained advocacy can prevent future disasters and ensure vulnerable nations receive the support needed for resilient infrastructure and sustainable development.
Ambassador Chinoza assured the governments and people of the Caribbean that Africa stood firmly besides them in their time of loss.
“Our solidarity is expressed through our unwavering diplomatic voice, our moral authority and our commitment to ensure your call for help is heard and acted upon across the world.”
