MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE
2 Port Royal Street, Kington
MEDIA RELEASE
December 9, 2025
Ethiopia and Jamaica Discuss Reconstruction Efforts post‑Melissa
The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has signalled its intent to deploy a technical team of engineers to support Jamaica’s reconstruction efforts following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
This follows recent talks between Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Honourable Alando Terrelonge, and Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Berhanu Tsegaye Abera. Earlier this month, the State Ministers met for bilateral talks at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kingston, during which Minister Terrelonge outlined the extensive damage caused by the hurricane, including economic shocks, disruptions to livelihoods, healthcare delivery, food security and other impacts.
“Ethiopia’s intention to deploy a team of engineers to support Jamaica’s reconstruction efforts is a much‑welcomed offer as we aim to rebuild better, stronger and more resilient, with the support of our bilateral partners,” said Terrelonge, who welcomed the Ethiopian delegation’s visit as a timely expression of solidarity and clear indication of Ethiopia’s commitment to its bilateral partnership with Jamaica.
During his exchange with Ethiopia, he further explained that climate‑related disasters are increasing in scale and frequency, placing added pressure on the safety, stability and economic well‑being of Jamaica and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“The Government of Jamaica remains focused on restoring services, supporting affected communities and advancing the measures needed to secure Jamaica’s long‑term climate resilience, including through its advocacy for more climate‑resilient policies for the protection and safety of SIDS. While Jamaica continues its work to strengthen resilience to climate shocks, Hurricane Melissa has reinforced the need for greater climate financing, adaptation support, disaster‑risk measures and loss‑and‑damage arrangements, which Jamaica continues to advance through both bilateral partnerships and multilateral negotiations,” added State Minister Terrelonge.
In a guided assessment tour facilitated by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the visiting delegation, which included senior technical officials from Ethiopia’s housing, engineering and road authorities, visited sections of St Elizabeth, including Black River, where they met with the Mayor and Chairman of the Municipal Corporation, Councillor Richard Solomon. They also visited the Black River Hospital before travelling to Westmoreland to tour other health facilities as well as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Savanna‑la‑Mar.
The findings from the assessment tour will assist the Government of Ethiopia in determining the nature of support it may extend to Jamaica’s ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts, particularly the rehabilitation of the Black River Hospital and the Savanna‑la‑Mar Public General Hospital.
