The League of African Ambassadors, has expressed with profound sorrow and unwavering solidarity just as it extended its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the peoples and governments of Jamaica, and all other Caribbean nations grievously affected by the catastrophic devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

This was contained in a statement signed by Ambassador Nwanne Ominyi, President, The League of African Ambassadors and Former High Commissioner of Nigeria to the Republic of Zambia

"The destruction, witnessed across the region, strikes a chord of profound empathy and shared concern within our African hearts. While oceans may separate us, the deep historical, cultural, and ancestral bonds that unite Africa and the Caribbean remain unbreakable. The pain of our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean is our pain. Their loss is our loss," the League said.

ln the face of this regional tragedy, the statement added that "the League is compelled, by the timeless principles of Pan-Africanism - the belief that the plight of any part of our global African family is an affair for all peoples of African descent, - to stand in solidarity with the whole region affected by this calamity."

Further, the Ambassador revealed that, "In this moment of dire need, the League is rallying together to launch the "Hand of Friendship and Advocacy" initiative. This diplomatic and strategic response aims to amplify the call for help and build resilient bridges for the future. To kick-start this effort:

"We hereby issue an urgent call to action to the international community, including the United Nations Organization and major humanitarian aid organizations, to rapidly deploy emergency teams and scale up assistance to affected countries. The League stands ready to offer its diplomatic support to facilitate these coordinated relief efforts.

"Championing Expert Deployment by Specialized Agencies: Recognizing the critical need for specialized knowledge, the League specifically calls upon global bodies and NGOs with expertise in disaster response?such as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and others?to immediately mobilize and deploy their technical experts to the region. These specialists are crucial for effective assessment, coordination, and laying the groundwork for recovery.

"Forging a Long-Term Partnership for Climate Resilience: We propose the establishment of a long'term "Africa-Caribbean Partnership on Climate Resilience Initiative." Using this tragedy as a pivotal moment, we commit to joint advocacy for climate justice and finance on the global stage, emphasizing that Small lsland Developing States and African nations bear the heaviest burden of a climate crisis they did almost nothing to create."

"To the governments and peoples of the Caribbean, we say to you that, you are not alone. Africa stands with you! Our solidarity is expressed through our unwavering diplomatic voice, our moral authority, and our commitment to ensure your call for help is heard and acted upon across the world. In extending this hand of friendship and advocacy, we reaffirm that our shared humanity and historical bonds are the most powerful forces against adversity.

"Let this be a testament that the resources of solidarity are found in the unwavering commitment to stand together as one family, to speak as one voice, and to demand a global response worthy of the resilience and spirit of the Caribbean people," the statement concluded.

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