Engineers from the Rwanda Defence Force have begun joint reconstruction work with counterparts from the Jamaica Defence Force in Montego Bay, located in St. James Parish, focusing on homes damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

The Rwanda Defence Force said in a statement Tuesday that the work marks the start of practical humanitarian and engineering support for communities affected by the cyclone, which struck the Caribbean in late October 2025.

Initial activities involve repairing and restoring residential structures to improve safety and living conditions for impacted families.

The operation is being implemented in coordination with Jamaican local authorities and the Jamaica Defence Force, ensuring alignment with national recovery priorities. Engineers from both forces are combining construction and logistical expertise to accelerate repairs while meeting local standards.

RDF Engineer Contingent Commander Col. Moses Kayigamba said the deployment reflects Rwanda’s solidarity with the people of Jamaica and is intended to support recovery beyond immediate repairs, with a focus on strengthening longer-term resilience.

The Rwanda Defence Force said the contingent is operating under the direction of Jamaican authorities to ensure the assistance complements existing recovery efforts.

The engineers were deployed to Jamaica under a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two countries to assist in rehabilitating infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.

Before departure, the contingent received briefings from Rwanda Defence Force leadership emphasizing professionalism, discipline and tangible impact for beneficiaries.

Hurricane Melissa triggered a large-scale humanitarian response across the Caribbean, with Jamaica experiencing the most severe damage.

The launch of joint reconstruction work adds technical capacity at a critical stage of rebuilding and reflects expanding operational cooperation between African and Caribbean defense institutions through on-the-ground delivery.