As Tropical Storm Melissa moves across the Caribbean, bringing heavy rains and strong winds, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working closely with governments and partners to help communities prepare and minimize the storm’s impact. With forecasts indicating that Melissa could intensify into a major hurricane, WFP’s actions are focused on early preparedness and anticipatory support to protect vulnerable populations before disaster strikes.
WFP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Lola Castro, emphasized the importance of early action to protect the most vulnerable, including women, children, and the elderly. She noted that prevention is not only more effective but also more cost-efficient than emergency response, particularly in the face of growing funding challenges.
In Haiti, where severe rainfall is expected to trigger flooding and road closures, WFP and the government have sent over 3.5 million text messages to raise awareness on safety and storm preparedness. Additionally, WFP is distributing US$900,000 in anticipatory e-money transfers to around 45,000 people to help them meet urgent needs and safeguard their livelihoods ahead of the storm.
In Jamaica, WFP is coordinating with the government and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to provide logistical and telecommunications support, as well as food and cash assistance. The organization is also working with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility to ensure quick access to financial assistance for households impacted by the storm through national social protection systems.
In eastern Cuba, WFP and government authorities have prepositioned food supplies sufficient to support 275,000 people for up to 60 days, ensuring a swift response to potential disruptions. Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, more than 4,000 vulnerable households in flood-prone areas will receive cash assistance to prepare for the storm, and emergency food aid will be ready for up to 6,000 families in affected southwestern provinces.
At a regional level, WFP is reinforcing preparedness through advanced data systems and logistics networks. The Automated Analysis System for weather events and Operational Alerts platform is being used to strengthen evidence-based response planning. The WFP Caribbean Regional Logistics Hub in Barbados has prepositioned over 500 pallets of relief supplies for rapid deployment by air or sea, while the UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Panama is on standby to dispatch more than 2,000 pallets of life-saving supplies to affected areas.
WFP’s anticipatory actions and regional readiness are supported by contributions from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and the governments of the United States, Canada, and Ireland, among others. These efforts highlight the importance of collaboration and proactive disaster management in protecting lives and livelihoods across the Caribbean.
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