KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica has led a major initiative within the Organization of American States (OAS) to strengthen the hemisphere’s emergency aid mechanism and improve the organisation’s capacity to support Member States affected by natural disasters.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, highlighted the initiative during her delivery of Jamaica’s national statement at the 56th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly in Panama City, where Member States are meeting from June 22 to 24.

The resolution, titled ‘Strengthening the Effectiveness and Impact of the Inter-American Emergency Aid from the Emergency Fund (FONDEM), was spearheaded by Jamaica, together with The Bahamas and the United States of America. It seeks to encourage greater voluntary contributions to FONDEM and better position the OAS to provide timely emergency support to Member States in need.