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The Category 5 storm destroyed homes, wrecked businesses and left, by some estimates, more than USD $12 billion in damage and almost 5 million tonnes of debris. 45 Jamaicans tragically lost their lives.The ongoing UN responseThe United Nations has worked hand in hand with the Government of Jamaica to respond to the needs left by the storm. Four weeks after landfall, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund released US$4 million so UN agencies could scale up food, water, health and shelter assistance.The World Food Programme’s emergency food operation reached more than 130,000 people before moving fully to cash assistance. UNDP launched the Jamaica Resilient Recovery Initiative in November 2025, starting with US$2.4 million in grants from the European Union, Australian Aid, the CARICOM Development Fund and UNDP. By April, 125 small businesses had received support. In August, nearly 200 residents cleared 2,000 tonnes of debris in two western communities, benefiting 19,000 people. UNDP is also supporting the Government to develop a master spatial plan for Black River, to reduce exposure to future hurricanes, flooding and storm surge.UNICEF and partners reached more than 75,000 people with water and sanitation supplies. IOM distributed more than 14,000 tarpaulins to give families temporary protection. PAHO worked with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to coordinate 17 emergency medical teams, which provided over 13,000 consultations and 390 surgeries. FAO is supporting a US$50 million recovery and resilience programme for storm-hit farmers in St Elizabeth and other western parishes, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining.The UN has been central to the response, but needs remain immense. During a recent visit to Black River, UN leadership saw the scale of the need, one year later. While doors have re-opened on some streets and shoppers could be seen bustling through the main street, many business owners are struggling to resume operations due to the catastrophic damage caused to their properties. In one case, it was observed that a once popular supermarket was now home to a grazing herd of goats.  Among affected business owners is the Rueben family, headed by Spencer Reuben, a 99-year-old Black River native, whose properties were destroyed. One of his buildings once housed a Courts department store, employing several local residents. Reuben watched helplessly as Melissa reduced much of his life’s work to rubble. “The damage is huge, I have never experienced anything like this. Looking forward to any support that can come from the government or other organisations like the United Nations,” he said. Kadian Myers Brown, President of the Black River Chapter of the St. Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, said businesses in the town are still trying to find their feet. “We want to explore strategic partnerships with the UN and other bodies to get businesses moving. I want to see the economy of Black River thriving again,” she said.In the Black River market, vendors Shawna and Marie asked for more people to visit their stalls. One year later, they said, the market is a ghost town. Miss Ann, a fishmonger also shared her worry about market conditions. “Business slow man, people are not coming out like before to buy fish. We want to see the place back up and running.”“One year on, the United Nations has delivered what it set out to deliver in the first phase of this response. I want to stress that conditions in Western Jamaica are not doom and gloom. The Government and partners are making significant efforts, public services have largely returned to normal. However, what we saw in Black River shows that there is still much work to be done, and we are ready to support interventions that help the private sector rise again, not just in Black River but in all affected areas,” said Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.Mr Zulu praised the creation of the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) as a strong step forward in coordinating recovery efforts, not only post- Melissa but for future emergencies.What is still neededEmergency relief has largely given way to recovery, and recovery needs far more than the UN can provide. Access to capital is now one of the main obstacles. The UN calls on donors, financial institutions and the private sector to support grants, credit and guarantees that allow small businesses and market traders in Black River and other affected towns to reopen. The UN will continue to work with the Government of Jamaica to rebuild in a way that reduces risk from future storms.