Multi-award-winning comedian, actor, novelist and philanthropist, Sir Lenny Henry, travels to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa to visit devastated communities and see the impacts first-hand.
Sir Lenny, who has long championed humanitarian causes worldwide, recently showed his support for the Red Cross following the devastation in communities throughout the Caribbean island following the effects of Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm - the strongest to hit Jamaica in modern history - caused catastrophic damage in October 2025, displacing tens of thousands of families and destroying vital infrastructure island-wide.
During his visit in early 2026, Sir Lenny saw the scale of the devastation first-hand. In Black River, in the St Elizabeth Parish - once a thriving centre of community life, homes, churches, banks and local businesses - had collapsed into rubble.
Reflecting on the scene, the Dudley-born star said: “It was like a giant hand came and just smashed down this entire community.” At Unity Primary School in Savanna-la-Mar, the impact on children was stark.
Only three of the school’s 23 classrooms can still be used. Some pupils who lost their homes are now sleeping on site, and teachers return each day to houses without roofs.
Standing in the destroyed library, Lenny described the loss of books and learning spaces as “a tragedy.” Despite the challenges, he witnessed remarkable resilience among families, volunteers and Red Cross teams.
As one of an endless number of businesses, organisations and individuals putting themselves forward, the Jamaica Red Cross is working closely with communities to support thousands of people with emergency shelter, food, clean water, cash assistance programmes and mental health services. Supported by the British Red Cross, they continue to provide critical mental health support for children and adults coping with trauma.
They do this while helping families reconnect with loved ones and regain stability. The Red Cross are committed to having a long‑term presence and deep community ties to remain alongside affected communities for as long as it takes, ensuring people have the support they need not just to survive, but to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Donations to the British Red Cross Disaster Fund can help provide the long‑term assistance communities need to rebuild their lives. A donation to the Disaster Fund will help them respond to disasters in the UK and around the world, including armed conflict, wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters.
