Jamaican music superstar Sean Paul has said the scale of the effort required to help people in the country is overwhelming after Hurricane Melissa devastated parts of the island last week. The Grammy-winning reggae singer described the category five storm as very frightening, especially for my young kids. That's the first time they've seen trees dance like that and the wind move like that, he told BBC News. They're in shock still, and traumatized. And can you imagine the children who are in the epicenter of it? It feels like you're in the Middle Ages.
Winds of up to 185 mph (295 km/h) caused at least 28 deaths. Paul and his family were in the capital Kingston, while areas further west suffered the greatest damage. He recounted, It is really difficult to bear. We weren't hit in Kingston very hard, but it was frightening. And you're wondering, at any minute now is there going to be, you know, some tree that comes along and slaps your roof off?
Paul also mentioned friends in Montego Bay who lost their roofs and are working hard to assist others, saying: Everybody's stuff is all muddied up and it's hard to think about something positive at this time. In a show of support, Paul pledged $50,000 (£38,000) to match donations to Food For The Poor Jamaica, characterizing the devastation as a very mind-blowing situation. He detailed how the energy and emotional toll of the aftermath have been challenging, leading him to break down at times due to the overwhelming need for help.
Continuing to highlight the dire situation, he stated, I just heard a story of 15 babies that were under three months old, but they're sleeping in cardboard boxes right now. So it's a terrible situation, and we're trying to get help out there as much as possible. Fellow Jamaican artist Shaggy is also involved in coordinating aid efforts, revealing his devastation at the destruction witnessed, emphasizing that nobody could really prepare for such a disaster. Sean Paul noted that Shaggy is planning a concert aimed at raising awareness and funds for ongoing recovery efforts. Together, they are among the voices rallying for urgent relief and long-term support for those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
Winds of up to 185 mph (295 km/h) caused at least 28 deaths. Paul and his family were in the capital Kingston, while areas further west suffered the greatest damage. He recounted, It is really difficult to bear. We weren't hit in Kingston very hard, but it was frightening. And you're wondering, at any minute now is there going to be, you know, some tree that comes along and slaps your roof off?
Paul also mentioned friends in Montego Bay who lost their roofs and are working hard to assist others, saying: Everybody's stuff is all muddied up and it's hard to think about something positive at this time. In a show of support, Paul pledged $50,000 (£38,000) to match donations to Food For The Poor Jamaica, characterizing the devastation as a very mind-blowing situation. He detailed how the energy and emotional toll of the aftermath have been challenging, leading him to break down at times due to the overwhelming need for help.
Continuing to highlight the dire situation, he stated, I just heard a story of 15 babies that were under three months old, but they're sleeping in cardboard boxes right now. So it's a terrible situation, and we're trying to get help out there as much as possible. Fellow Jamaican artist Shaggy is also involved in coordinating aid efforts, revealing his devastation at the destruction witnessed, emphasizing that nobody could really prepare for such a disaster. Sean Paul noted that Shaggy is planning a concert aimed at raising awareness and funds for ongoing recovery efforts. Together, they are among the voices rallying for urgent relief and long-term support for those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
