Hurricane Melissa Leaves Thousands Displaced Across the Caribbean

The recent hurricane, Melissa, has caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and crops across the Caribbean, leaving thousands of people displaced. Despite the storm's severity, extensive storm preparation by governments, assisted by UN agencies and other NGOs, has helped lessen the impact and saved lives in many areas. The storm struck the province of Santiago de Cuba with winds exceeding 200 km/h and six hours of torrential rain, affecting more than 3 million people and cutting off nearly 240 communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The hurricane, Melissa, caused widespread damage and displacement across the Caribbean, affecting over 3 million people.
• Cuba's civil defence system helped evacuate over 77,000 people to protection centers, including schools temporarily repurposed as shelters.
• The UN's anticipatory action framework pre-positioned relief supplies and personnel before the storm hit, allowing for a quick response to the affected areas.
• The storm compounded existing vulnerabilities in the affected areas, which had already suffered from last year's Hurricane Oscar and earthquakes.
• Plans are underway to reach 2 million people in the coming days, including food security, health, education, shelter, water, and sanitation, and logistics.
• In Haiti, the storm's slow movement brought flash floods, landslides, and severe damage to crops, resulting in at least 24 deaths, 17 injuries, and 18 missing people.
• Early preparedness helped save lives in Haiti, with 3.5 million early warning messages sent and emergency stocks deployed.
• The UN's Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is 87% underfunded, putting life-saving operations at risk.

Statistics:

• Over 3 million people were exposed to life-threatening conditions due to the hurricane.
• Nearly 240 communities are cut off due to flooding and landslides.
• Over 77,000 people were evacuated to protection centers in Cuba.
• The UN deployed 3.5 million early warning messages in Haiti.
• 15,000 people are currently sheltering in over 120 temporary facilities in Haiti.
• The UN's Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti is 87% underfunded.

Sources:

• M2 PressWIRE, October 31, 2025, "Hurricane Melissa leaves thousands displaced across the Caribbean"
• UN Resident Coordinator for Cuba, Francisco Pichon, quoted in M2 PressWIRE, October 31, 2025
• UN's interim Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti, Gregoire Goodstein, quoted in M2 PressWIRE, October 31, 2025