United States, Nov. 19 -- The World Bank, in coordination with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), estimate that the physical damage to Jamaica caused by Hurricane Melissa totals US$8.8 billion - equivalent to 41% of the country's 2024 GDP- making it the costliest hurricane in Jamaica's recorded history. The Global Rapid Damage Estimation (GRADE), conducted immediately after the hurricane, assessed physical damage across residential, non-residential, infrastructure, and agricultural sectors. It does not include broader economic losses, which are expected to be even more significant.The GRADE assessment will inform a more detailed evaluation of damages and economic losses by sectors as part of a collaboration with the Inter-American D...