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Disaster victims

Devastation and Relief Efforts: Hurricane Melissa Leaves a Trail of Destruction Across the Caribbean

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the Caribbean, causing widespread destruction and disruption in Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The storm's severe impact has left thousands of people displaced, with extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and crops. Despite the challenges, extensive storm preparation by governments and international organizations appears to have helped lessen the impact and saved lives. In Cuba, the hurricane struck the province of Santiago de Cuba with winds exceeding 200 km/h per hour and six hours of torrential rain. The UN aid coordination office (UNOCHA) reported that more than three million people were exposed to life-threatening conditions, and nearly 240 communities are cut off due to flooding and landslides.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 77,000 people were evacuated in Cuba to protection centres, including schools temporarily repurposed as shelters, under the country's civil defence system.
  • The UN's anticipatory action framework, which pre-positioned relief supplies and personnel before the storm hit, allowed for a quick response to reach those in need.
  • In Haiti, at least 24 people have died, 17 were injured, and 18 remain missing; 15,000 people are currently sheltering in over 120 temporary facilities.
  • Early preparedness helped save lives in Haiti, with emergency stocks deployed, evacuation shelters set up, and 3.5 million early warning messages sent out.
  • The UN's Humanitarian Response Plan is currently 87% underfunded, putting life-saving operations at risk in Haiti.
  • The UN continues to coordinate assistance across the Caribbean, supporting both immediate relief and longer-term recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

Statistics:

  • Over 3 million people were exposed to life-threatening conditions due to Hurricane Melissa.
  • Nearly 240 communities are cut off due to flooding and landslides in the affected areas.
  • Over 15,000 people are currently sheltering in temporary facilities in Haiti.
  • The UN's Humanitarian Response Plan is 87% underfunded, with a funding gap of over $170 million.

Sources:

  • UN aid coordination office (UNOCHA)
  • Francisco Pichon, UN Resident Coordinator for Cuba
  • Gregoire Goodstein, the UN's interim Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti
  • UN Humanitarian Response Plan

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