New platform aims to bring transparency to hurricane relief

A digital relief mapping and management platform designed to help coordinate disaster relief across the island, has been launched in response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.

The system, called Relief Link Jamaica, connects donors, relief agencies and government partners to ensure aid is delivered quickly and transparently. Applicants are mapped by parish, community and GPS coordinates, allowing for precise tracking and response planning.

“We created Relief Link Jamaica to bring order, accountability and humanity to how disaster aid is delivered,” said George Henry, founder and chief executive of Appfinity Technologies Limited, developer of the platform.

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, we saw too many cases of people crying for help online, but donors had no structured way to verify, track or respond effectively.”

Through the platform, affected individuals can submit applications, upload proof of damage and share their stories through photos, videos and testimonials. Donors – whether individuals, non-governmental organisations or corporations – can browse verified applicants by parish, family size or type of need, and sponsor households directly through registered partners such as the Eastern Westmoreland Hurricane Relief Programme.

Unlike social media-driven relief efforts, which can be chaotic and difficult to verify, Relief Link Jamaica offers end-to-end visibility of the process, from application and verification to donation and distribution. Every transaction is logged with automated audit trails and exportable reports by parish, aid type and donor engagement, Henry said. The platform is free to use, with no money or goods received by Appfinity. “Transparency builds trust,” Henry said. “We wanted to build a system where every dollar, every bag of rice, every mattress could be traced, not for bureaucracy’s sake, but to restore faith in giving.”

Henry said many Jamaicans still need structured and fair access to relief and hopes to contribute to the government’s plan to establish a food stamp system.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has indicated that the government will transition to a voucher or coupon system. “Instead of carrying a bag of relief items, you will get something equivalent to cash and go to your nearest shop in your area, where we will stock and supply them, and you get your items,” Holness said.

To modernise the process, Henry is proposing a Digital Relief Distribution System. Each recipient would receive a unique QR code card linked to their beneficiary profile, replacing weekly printed food stamps. Henry said the project is already 60 per cent complete and could be ready for deployment within four days if approved by the government.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com