'I wanted to unite Jamaicans around the world with a song'

Like millions of other Jamaicans around the world, Aiesha Barrett watched Hurricane Melissa tear across the island she calls home on a TV screen.

Witnessing the devastation caused by the tropical cyclone - one of the most powerful to ever hit the Atlantic Ocean - made her want to do something to help.

So she sat down and wrote a song.

The track she created, Jamaica Strong, has become an anthem for the country as it works to recover from the damaging storm.

It's also become a rallying call for those who, like Aiesha, are trying to do their bit to help family members and friends in the Caribbean.

Aiesha's heritage is deeply rooted in Jamaica's reggae scene, and she is closely related to two of its most famous legends.

Her dad, Aston Barrett, was bassist of Bob Marley and The Wailers, while her uncle, Carlton Barrett, was the band's long-time drummer.

Speaking to 1Xtra presenter Seani B as part of the station's special For Jamaica broadcast, she says writing Jamaica Strong "wasn't difficult at all".

"Just seeing the devastation of what was going on in my island, with my people - I have family there," she says.

"The lyrics just came naturally because they were real emotions."

Aiesha uploaded the audio before the song's official release - and it blew up.

Since then, it's had more than one million views online, and been adopted as the anthem of the Jamaica Strong benefit concert to be held in New York next week.

The show, to be headlined by Jamaican superstar singers Shaggy and Sean Paul, aims to raise money towards relief efforts, but also lift the spirits of those affected by the hurricane.

Aiesha says that was what she wanted her song to do.

"It wasn't something that I expected to blow up and to be where it's at right now, I just wanted something to give them some type of hope," she says.

So far, she says, it's been having the desired effect.

"The messages I've been receiving is people are definitely tearing up," she says.

"I definitely shake their emotions.

"And they love the unity of what's happening right now on the ground.

"The song is definitely giving them some kind of assurance that, you know, things will get better still."

Despite the massive show of togetherness, there is a huge amount of work to do as Jamaica looks to rebuild.

Hurricane Melissa left dozens of people dead, tore roofs off hospitals, destroyed homes and left big parts of Jamaica without power.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the cost of the damage is estimated at $8.8bn US.

The IMF, which is part of the United Nations, recently announced that up to $6.7bn could be made available from international sources to assist the country's recovery over the next three years.

The UK government, which previously sent a £7.5m aid package to Jamaica, recently increased this to £8m.

Ordinary people living abroad, who have been gathering up donations, are trying to get help to the country as soon as possible.

According to official data, there are about 1.1m Jamaicans living in the USA, and in the 2021 UK census 167,000 people said they were born in the country.

Estimates suggest between 300,000 to 400,000 people in the UK have Jamaican heritage.

Communities across Britain have been getting together to gather supplies, donations and support for the country.

Aiesha, who has also been collecting donations of food and other supplies, says she wants to keep the momentum going.

"A hope of faith that we will rebuild, just to know that we are strong," she says.

"Just to uplift their spirit, let them know that we are unshakeable."

Listen to the special 1Xtra broadcast here.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.