Bringing Communities Back Online after Hurricane Melissa

KINGSTON February 9, 2026: When Hurricane Melissa swept through Jamaica last October, it left a trail of destruction that cut off entire communities from essential services. For many families, the loss of electricity and internet blocked access to education, health care, and contact with loved ones during a critical time.

For UNICEF Senior ICT Associate, Troy Folkes, restoring connectivity has been more than a technical task. It has been a mission to reconnect communities to lifelines essential for recovery. “The terrain has been a real challenge,” he explains. “We’ve had to navigate steep hills in rural communities to reach schools and health centres that were completely cut off. Some of these facilities never even had internet before and in some areas, infrastructure is still under water.”

Using satellite technology, UNICEF, the European Union and the Embassy of Spain are restoring connectivity to 55 priority sites, including hospitals, places of safety for children as well as first responders and community hubs. The initiative is being implemented through a strong partnership with HISPASAT, a leading Spanish satellite communications company, which is providing high-speed internet to Jamaican emergency services and technical assistance with close collaboration with the Government of Jamaica and partners at the national and regional levels.

This work forms part of UNICEF’s broader response and recovery efforts, using emergency satellite connectivity to restore access to essential services in communities most in need in concert with the government, which established a task force to identify areas most in need. Key personnel from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Defense Force (JDF), Jamaica ICT Authority, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Spectrum Management Authority, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness were trained to support the installation and deployment of equipment in the field.

At health centres, the impact has been significant. Connectivity enables health care workers to contact patients by phone, coordinate services, and conduct follow-up care, including house calls. “For many families, the local health cenre is their only point of access to care,” explains Mr Folkes.

He notes that the Emergency Telecommunications Training (ETT) organized by UNICEF’s ICT Division (ICTD), some years ago, proved invaluable during this emergency. “That training gave me the practical understanding needed to deploy this technology in challenging field conditions,” he notes. He credits his instructors for their continued technical guidance and field support and acknowledges critical technology for emergency (T4E) support during the response.

The human impact of restored connectivity is perhaps most evident at community institutions like the St. James Parish Library. After the hurricane, the library had no internet access and was forced to turn away patrons who needed to connect with relatives overseas or complete online applications. “When the service was installed, the relief was immediate,” recalls Mr Folkes. “It meant people could once again access essential online services and reconnect with their families. The library became a place of hope again.”

In several communities, health centres and libraries are now serving as digital hubs, safe spaces where residents can access information, communicate, and begin rebuilding their lives. “Seeing the joy on people’s faces when they realize they can finally connect to the wider world reminds me why being in the field and doing this work matters,” he says.

Through strategic ICT interventions, UNICEF is helping communities regain stability, protect access to health and education services, and recover with dignity. This demonstrates how technology, when deployed with purpose, can accelerate recovery and strengthen resilience for the future.

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