Spain Offers Field Hospital to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa Devastation
Spain has offered Jamaica a fully-equipped field hospital to assist with medical needs following the devastation from Hurricane Melissa, which caused deaths, infrastructure damage, and widespread power outages.
- • Spain offers a 'START' emergency response field hospital to Jamaica.
- • The hospital can perform surgeries and hospitalize up to 20 patients.
- • Hurricane Melissa caused flooding, landslides, four deaths, and left 500,000 without electricity in Jamaica.
- • Spain emphasizes consistent foreign policy and multilateral solutions in its humanitarian efforts.
Key details
Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, announced on October 30, 2025, the country's offer to provide a field hospital to Jamaica in response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa. The specialized field hospital, known as the 'START' emergency response unit, is equipped to perform surgical procedures and hospitalize up to 20 patients. Staffed by medical personnel, water and sanitation experts, and logisticians, the hospital has been offered through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (Aecid) to address urgent medical needs in Jamaica.
Hurricane Melissa has caused severe damage across Jamaica, including widespread flooding, landslides, and destruction of infrastructure. The disaster has isolated numerous families, caused at least four deaths, and left around 500,000 residents without electricity. Other Caribbean nations such as Haiti, Panama, and the Dominican Republic have also suffered casualties due to the hurricane.
Albares emphasized that Spain's response is part of a consistent foreign policy that avoids double standards and prioritizes multilateral solutions over bilateral approaches. His remarks were made during the eighth edition of the Paris Peace Forum, highlighting Spain's commitment to humanitarian aid and international cooperation in crisis situations.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.