Hurricane Melissa is leaving a devastating impact in the Caribbean, and the United Nations is supporting the response

The United Nations and its partners are providing assistance and supporting damage assessment, coordination and logistics in close cooperation with national authorities.

Today, a team from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) headed to Jamaica to strengthen the Office of the Resident Coordinator and support national emergency operations. Additional specialized teams remain on standby should governments request further support.

In Jamaica, authorities reported severe flooding, landslides and power outages. The World Food Program has begun logistics operations to deliver relief supplies from the Caribbean Regional Logistics Center in Barbados, including 2,000 emergency food kits by air, as well as other items arriving by sea.

In Cuba, the United Nations and its partners are providing essential assistance. With the proactive action plan in place before the cyclone’s arrival, UN agencies were able to provide early assistance, including health supplies, tarpaulins, generators, and agricultural materials.

In Haiti, OCHA reported that heavy rains and strong winds associated with Hurricane Melissa caused severe flooding, landslides and destruction in several departments. More than 14,000 people took refuge in more than 100 temporary shelters across the country.

According to the authorities, 24 people were killed, 17 others were injured, and 18 are still missing, most of them in the town of Petit Goave in the western department, where the La Digue River overflowed, sweeping away dozens of homes and claiming the lives of 10 children.

Humanitarian needs remain significant, especially for clean water, hygiene supplies and sanitation. There are also needs for shelter materials, blankets and transportation support to reach isolated communities.

Proactive actions and preparedness measures allowed humanitarian partners to implement the response quickly.

In the Dominican Republic, UNHCR is supporting the government’s response, maintaining close coordination with national authorities and partners to ensure that assistance reaches hard-to-reach and vulnerable communities. Basic relief materials have been provided to affected areas, and coordination is underway with UN partners to facilitate cross-border support to Haiti.