U.S. DEPLOYS DISASTER RELIEF TEAMS TO CARIBBEAN AS HURRICANE MELISSA WREAKS HAVOC
Read Time:1 Minute, 11 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The United States has mobilized disaster relief teams to several Caribbean nations following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday.
Rubio, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said Washington is in close contact with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and The Bahamas as they grapple with the hurricane’s aftermath.
“We have rescue and response teams heading to affected areas along with critical lifesaving supplies,” Rubio stated.
The Secretary of State, however, made no mention of Cuba, with which the U.S. maintains strained relations.
According to a State Department official, “dozens” of U.S. personnel are expected to be deployed to assist in rescue operations and damage assessments. The teams will include disaster specialists from Los Angeles, Fairfax County, Virginia, and a regional hub in Costa Rica.
The U.S. pledge of support comes amid limited international aid structures following the Trump administration’s decision to shut down most U.S. international assistance programs, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Although both Rubio and former President Donald Trump have questioned the need for long-term foreign aid, they have maintained support for targeted emergency responses during major crises.
Another senior U.S. official acknowledged that the ongoing government shutdown has complicated coordination efforts but confirmed that emergency workers received swift authorization to proceed with the relief mission.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0