Source: Aljazeera News
DST News: BLACK RIVER, JAMAICA — Hunger and despair have gripped the coastal town of Black River as survivors of Hurricane Melissa scavenge through wreckage in search of food and water. Days after the Category 5 storm tore through Jamaica, residents describe scenes of chaos, loss, and total devastation.
People can be seen walking along mud-covered roads, combing through debris and shattered shops for anything edible. Others have climbed into collapsed supermarkets, tossing bottles of water and canned goods to those waiting below. “We have to use whatever we see — in the street or in the supermarket,” said Demar Walker, one of many survivors now sheltering wherever walls remain standing.
Looting has become widespread, with locals storming pharmacies and stores out of sheer desperation. “I saw people carrying drugs and alcohol from the pharmacy,” said Aldwayne Tomlinson. “There’s chaos everywhere — no food, no water,” added another resident, Chegun Braham.
For many, survival is all that matters. “I lost everything. We need food. We have no food,” said Jimmy Esson, standing beside the mangled remains of his home. Like many others, Walker has been unable to contact his family. “My eight-year-old son is in Westmoreland, but there’s no way to reach him. The roads are gone. No phones, no power,” he said tearfully.
Officials say 90 percent of homes in the area were destroyed. The mayor of Black River, Richard Solomon, acknowledged the widespread looting but said it reflected the residents’ desperation. “People are trying to survive,” he said.
Entire communities have been cut off and flattened. Key facilities — including the hospital, police station, and fire station — lie in ruins. Floodwaters swept through buildings, forcing residents to higher floors as waves surged shoulder-high. Michael Tharkurdeen, a local medic, described finding people “covered in lacerations” and at least one man “lifeless” after the storm.
Authorities now report at least 19 deaths in Jamaica, up sharply from earlier counts, with dozens more dead in neighboring Haiti.
Aid efforts are slowly reaching the region, though damaged roads and flooded routes have hindered delivery. Helicopters began airlifting supplies into Black River on Friday, bringing a brief calm after days of panic.
Still, the need remains dire. “We want St Elizabeth to rise again,” said Shawn Morris, a resident watching military trucks arrive. “It’s not about money. We just need food and water.”
