Alison Hammond has described her devastation after witnessing the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which tore through Jamaica with 185mph winds, leaving thousands homeless and killing at least 45 people. The This Morning presenter, 51, visited the island seven months after the storm hit in October 2025, seeing the remnants of people's lives scattered across the streets of Black River, one of the worst-affected areas.
Hammond, who was born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents, travelled with UNICEF ahead of Soccer Aid for Unicef. She visited Black River Primary School, where large parts of the building remain unusable, and met pupils like 11-year-old Orecia from Darliston Primary School in Westmoreland. Orecia's family home was left uninhabitable, forcing her, her mother Alicia, and baby sister Octavia to move in with her grandmother.
Hammond said: 'Coming to Black River has been for me the biggest eye opener. I saw everything from cars, people’s clothes, sofas, it was unbelievable. No tree was standing straight, no greenery left.' She also visited UNICEF-supported temporary learning spaces, which are helping children return to education despite the destruction. UNICEF estimates around 280,000 children need humanitarian assistance, with over 100,000 facing disruption to their education.
Despite the devastation, Hammond praised the resilience of the families she met, calling it 'inspiring' to see how they are pushing forward. 'Nobody can strip away the solid foundation of a family sticking together,' she added. The trip aims to raise awareness and funds for UNICEF's ongoing recovery efforts in Jamaica.
