November 05, 2025
Why the United Kingdom Must Offer Humanitarian Visas to Jamaicans After Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa didn’t just tear through homes, it exposed the cracks in Britain’s moral compass. As Jamaica struggles to recovers from one of the worst storm in its history, the UK has pledged £7.5 million in aid following criticsm of its initial £2.5 million offer: shelter kits, solar lamps, and rapid deployment teams have been sent. But for thousands of Jamaicans — especially children, families, and those medically at risk are still exposed, what’s needed isn’t just supplies. It’s sanctuary. And on that front, the silence from Britain is deafening.
Schools destroyed, Hospitals are in ruins, children are out of classrooms, some orphaned. Families are displaced, many with relatives in the UK. And yet, there is no public indication that the UK Government has offered humanitarian visas to those most affected by this climate catastrophe. No emergency pathway, no temporary refuge, just silence.
Jamaica is not a distant stranger to the UK. It is a Commonwealth nation. A country whose people fought and helped to rebuild Britain after World War II. A country whose elders were deported under the Windrush scandal, and whose descendants still face systemic exclusion. Denying them sanctuary in their desperation, in the wake of disaster, is to compound those injustices.
And let’s be clear: Hurricane Melissa is not a freak event, it is part of a climate crisis disproportionately caused by the world’s richest nations. Jamaica contributes less than 0.1% of global emissions, yet bears the brunt of rising seas, intensified storms, and collapsing infrastructure on the heels of colonialism. The UK, as a historic industrial power and former colonial ruler, has a climate debt to pay. That debt is not settled with tarpaulins and press releases. The United Kingdom is strong today because it was built on the Blood, Sweat and Tears of Jamaicans and other Caribbean nations.
Reparations are not just about the past, they are about the present. They are about who gets to rebuild, who gets to flee, and who gets left behind. A humanitarian visa scheme would be a small but meaningful act of repair. It would recognise that the UK’s wealth was built, in part, on the extraction of Jamaican labour, land, and life—and that justice demands more than aid. It demands access.
JamRadio asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) if it will provide any humanitarian visas for Jamaicans severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Its response to our questions were nothing short of evasive.
An FCDO spokesperson said:
“Hurricane Melissa has caused devastation across Jamaica, leaving thousands in urgent need of shelter and basic goods.
“UK government teams are working around the clock to get relief supplies to those hardest hit by the hurricane. We have so far provided 2800 shelter kits and over 1700 solar lanterns, which will go to those most in need.
“We pay tribute to the incredible resilience and courage of the Jamaican people as they begin the long road to recovery. We will continue to work closely with the Government of Jamaica and partners on the ground to support relief and rebuilding efforts.”
While the UK government has detailed its aid shipments and military support to Jamaica, it has pointedly avoided answering whether it will offer humanitarian visas to those displaced by Hurricane Melissa. This silence is striking and especially given the scale of devastation and Jamaica’s deep ties to the UK. Without an emergency visa pathway, thousands remain stranded, including children and medically vulnerable individuals with family in Britain.
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Book now →Rapid humanitarian visas for Jamaicans, especially children with family here in the UK, patients needing specialist care, and those displaced by the storm, would be a gesture not of generosity, but of accountability and good faith. It would reflect the UK’s stated values of compassion, historical responsibility, and global leadership.
The precedent exists. The UK has offered humanitarian pathways to Ukrainians, Afghans, and Hong Kongers. Why not Jamaicans? Is the Commonwealth bond only symbolic? Is Black pain less urgent? The infrastructure exists. The need is undeniable. The question is political will.
Will the Prime MInister- Sir Keir Starmer show an act of good faith and kidness to the people of Jamaica in their most dire time of need?
