Sean Paul is calling on fans to help with humanitarian aid as Hurricane Melissa continues to devastate Jamaica.
A representative for the 52-year-old told TMZ that Paul remains on the island and is mobilizing relief efforts through his foundation in collaboration with Food For the Poor Jamaica.
On Thursday (Oct. 30), Paul shared a video to his Instagram account and called for support.
“My island Jamaica is going through a tough time right now. Hurricane Melissa has caused a lot of damage. People are misplaced, people are hurt, people are without any help right now,” he said in the two-minute clip, where fallen trees and storm debris was visible. “I want to match everything, up to $50,000 U.S. dollars that you give. Together we can help to make a difference.”
He continued, “I’m just asking from your heart, if you can give to the country who has given you so much for your entertainment and just a peaceful place to come to to relax.”
According to CBS News, communities across the Caribbean are struggling to recover after Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola earlier this week.
The Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday (Oct. 28), was the most powerful storm ever recorded in the island’s history, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph.
Satellite and aerial images reveal widespread devastation along Jamaica’s southwestern coast, showing once-vibrant towns like White House and Black River reduced to “dirt and rubble.”
CBS News also reports that at least four people died in Jamaica and were “by all indications, direct victims of the Hurricane.” More than 25,000 residents remained in shelters as of Wednesday, with a reported 77 percent of the island without power.
Richard Thompson, acting director-general of Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, told Nationwide News Network that efforts to assess damage were hampered by “a total communication blackout” in some regions.
Beyond Jamaica, officials confirmed at least 23 deaths in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. As of Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center reported that Melissa had moved past the Bahamas and was heading toward Bermuda.
Source: Complex
