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In the wake of Hurricane Melissa's devastation across parts of Jamaica last week, reggae superstar Sean Paul has highlighted the "overwhelming" scale of relief efforts facing the country. The Grammy-winning artist described the Category 5 storm as "very frightening, especially for my young kids.” Winds of up to 185mph (295 km/h) caused at least 28 deaths. Paul and his family were in the capital Kingston, while areas further west suffered the greatest damage.
"That's the first time they've seen trees dance like that and the wind move like that," he said. "They're in shock still, and traumatised. And can you imagine the children who are in the epicentre of it? It feels like you're in the Middle Ages."
The singer said: "It is really difficult to bear. We weren't hit in Kingston very hard, but it was frightening. And you're wondering, at any minute now is there going to be, you know, some tree that comes along and slaps your roof off?
"That happened to friends of mine in Montego Bay. They've lost their whole roof, and they're still in the trenches helping people there, making sure that food reaches and clothes reach people. Everybody's stuff is all muddied up and it's hard to think about something positive at this time."
"After days and days of communication and trying to help out in different ways, on Saturday I broke down," he said.
"It's just the amount of energy it takes, and the depression that starts to set in, and then you have to shake yourself out of it because there's just so much to be done that we haven't even tipped the iceberg yet.”
He continued: "It is overwhelming. I myself took a drive to the country yesterday, the countryside of St Mary, which was not hit as hard, but still hit. They don't have light yet, and a lot of people out there can't even see the rest of what's happening, because once they get charge on their phone, they're just trying to call loved ones to make sure that they're OK."
Paul has pledged $50,000 (£38,000) to match donations to Food For The Poor Jamaica, and described the devastation as "a very mind-blowing situation".
