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Emergency preparedness

Devastation in Jamaica: Hurricane Melissa Brings Unprecedented Destruction

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Hurricane Melissa, a category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of unprecedented destruction, according to UN officials. The head of the UN team in Jamaica, Dennis Zulu, described the devastation as "never seen before" on the Caribbean island. With the storm still barreling through the region, the UN has allocated $4 million each to Haiti and Cuba from its Central Emergency Fund to help communities prepare for the storm's impact.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction and leaving a trail of unprecedented devastation.
  • The UN Resident Coordinator, Dennis Zulu, described the destruction as "never seen before" on the island of Jamaica.
  • The UN has allocated $4 million each to Haiti and Cuba from its Central Emergency Fund to help communities prepare for the storm's impact.
  • The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) is prioritizing the delivery of 2,000 emergency food boxes to support 6,000 people for a week.
  • The storm weakened to a category 2 while crossing into Cuba but is expected to remain a powerful hurricane when it moves across the Bahamas.
  • The UN Deputary Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has linked the storm to climate change, emphasizing the need to fight for a world at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
  • Data from the UN aid coordination office (OCHA) shows that Melissa ranks among the most intense storms to strike Cuba in recent decades.
  • The UN is working closely with authorities and humanitarian partners to assess needs, assist those impacted, and prepare for areas that may yet face the storm's impact.
  • At least 20 Haitians, including 10 children, have died due to river flooding as Melissa barrelled across the region.

Statistics:

  • Hurricane Melissa is expected to bring "life-threatening" storm surges with 120 mph winds, heavy rain, and 145 millimeter rainfall totals.
  • The storm's maximum sustained winds near 138 mph (222 km/h) and two-day rainfall totals approaching 145 millimetres.
  • 2,000 emergency food boxes are ready to be airlifted from Barbados to support 6,000 people for a week.
  • $4 million each has been allocated to Haiti and Cuba from the UN's Central Emergency Fund.

Sources:

  • United Nations (UN) press release.
  • United Nations News (UN News).
  • National Hurricane Centre (NHC) report.
  • UN aid coordination office (OCHA) data.
  • World Food Programme (WFP) press release.
  • News reports from the region.

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