Relief supplies depart for Jamaica after islandwide collection effort

“Puerto Rico responded with immense generosity,” Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana said when announcing the departure of the humanitarian aid collected as part of the Puerto Rico Embraces Jamaica initiative.

By THE STAR STAFF

Secretary of State Rosachely Rivera Santana announced Sunday that humanitarian aid collected at the five distribution centers established around the island departed in the morning for Jamaica in 14 fully loaded 40-foot shipping containers as part of the Puerto Rico Embraces Jamaica initiative.

The shipment will arrive directly at the Port of Kingston, where it will be received by Food for the Poor, an organization accredited by the Jamaican government, which will be in charge of distribution to the communities most affected by Hurricane Melissa.

“Puerto Rico responded with immense generosity,” Rivera Santana said in a written statement. “For three days, we saw thousands of people arrive at collection centers with essential items to support Jamaica. Just over an hour ago, 14 trucks left, fully loaded thanks to the solidarity of our people and the collaborative work of agencies, municipalities, volunteers, and the private sector. We know what it means to start over after a hurricane, and that is why we stand with Jamaica with our commitment as Caribbean brothers and sisters.”

She detailed that the San Juan collection center received the largest volume of donations and that the supplies sent included water, canned food, milk and baby food, diapers, first-aid supplies, medications, personal hygiene and cleaning products, insect repellent, pet food, new bedding, disposable utensils, and other essential items to address the immediate needs in the affected areas. She added that clothing was also received and that, through an agreement with the Salvation Army, it will be handled and distributed as part of the humanitarian effort.

“This initiative was made possible by the effort, coordination, and an excellent relationship with the Puerto Rico Shipping Association, whose members demonstrated their commitment and voluntarily joined in by donating the containers and providing maritime transportation to Jamaica,” Ports Authority Executive Director Norberto Negrón Díaz said. “We recognize the association’s president, José Nazario; Luis Ayala Colón and Puerto Nuevo Terminals, where the containers were loaded; Bestway Transport and García Trucking, who handled the ground transportation; IPT for the weighing; and Janice Alonso, general manager of Pérez y Cía de Puerto Rico, agents for the shipping line Zim Integrated Shipping Services, who were responsible for the operational coordination, logistics, compliance, and donation of approximately 14 containers and their transport to Jamaica.”