Overview
Hurricane Melissa has left a broad swath of destruction across the Caribbean, with Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica reporting extensive damage and loss of life. Officials estimate that almost 6 million people across the region are affected, many facing displacement, food shortages, and interrupted access to basic services. As communities begin the long road to recovery, international aid groups and regional authorities are coordinating rapid relief and resilience efforts.
Affected Nations at a Glance
Haiti has faced the brunt of the storm’s impact, with flooding, damaged infrastructure, and disruptions to food and water supplies complicating relief operations. In Cuba, coastal communities reported significant damage to housing and agriculture, with roads out of service in several provinces. Jamaica also saw severe weather effects, including landslides and flooding that hampered rescue and recovery work. In each country, vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, and those with chronic illness—are at heightened risk as shortages and displacement persist.
Humanitarian Needs on the Ground
Across the region, the immediate priorities include delivering food and clean water, restoring shelter, and ensuring access to medical care. Many families have lost their homes or livelihoods, forcing them to rely on temporary shelters or community centres. Communication networks, schools, and markets have been disrupted, complicating relief logistics and early recovery efforts. The developing nature of the crisis means that needs are likely to evolve over the coming weeks as weather conditions shift and damage assessments unfold.
Relief Efforts and the Role of the WFP
In Kingston, Jamaica, representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP) stressed that the priority is to quickly assess needs and deliver life-sustaining food assistance, while simultaneously supporting vulnerable households with nutrition support and cash-based transfer programmes where feasible. The WFP has signaled readiness to scale operations in collaboration with local authorities, other UN agencies, and regional humanitarian partners to reach people who have lost access to regular meals and essential services.
UN agencies and non-governmental organizations are coordinating with national disaster response teams to open routes for aid, set up distribution points, and monitor the most at-risk communities. Emphasis is being placed on targeting children, pregnant and nursing women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, who require continued access to nutrition and essential supplies during the early stages of recovery.
<h2 What Comes Next
As the immediate response moves from relief to early recovery, planners emphasize building resilience to future storms. This includes reinforcing shelter capacity, improving flood control measures, and supporting livelihoods through agricultural inputs and cash assistance programs. Regional authorities have called for sustained international support, including funding, technical expertise, and logistics capacity, to sustain relief operations and help Caribbean communities rebound stronger.
How You Can Help
People looking to assist can donate to established relief organizations operating in the affected countries, prioritizing agencies with on-the-ground presence and transparent reporting. Support for long-term recovery efforts, such as housing repairs, livelihood restoration, and health services, is crucial to reducing vulnerability to future weather events.
Conclusion
Hurricane Melissa’s impact across Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica highlights the immediate human cost of extreme weather and the critical need for swift, coordinated action. As millions endure displacement and hardship, international aid and resilient planning will determine how quickly Caribbean communities can recover and rebuild for a safer future.
