Hurricane Melissa has left Jamaica facing devastation on a scale “never seen before,” according to UN Resident Coordinator Dennis Zulu. The Category 5 storm caused widespread destruction after making landfall on Tuesday, severely damaging infrastructure and disrupting the island’s economy. Zulu emphasized that the UN is working closely with the Jamaican Government, regional bodies, and UN agencies to coordinate relief efforts. He warned that the reconstruction and recovery process will require significant resources and sustained international support.
From Kingston, UN World Food Programme (WFP) Director Brian Bogart described the crisis as a “terrible tragedy,” underscoring the urgency of delivering humanitarian assistance. The WFP is preparing to distribute 2,000 emergency food boxes—enough to feed 6,000 people for a week—as soon as the airport reopens. Additionally, a vessel loaded with essential supplies, including hygiene kits, generators, and shelter materials, is being dispatched from Barbados to Jamaica to strengthen the coordinated humanitarian response alongside the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
As Melissa moved north into Cuba on Wednesday, it brought heavy rainfall, destructive winds, and life-threatening storm surges. Though it weakened to a Category 2 storm, the National Hurricane Centre warned that it would remain powerful as it advanced toward The Bahamas and Bermuda. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called the storm a stark reminder of the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed Melissa as one of the strongest storms to hit Cuba in recent decades, prompting the UN to release $4 million each for Haiti and Cuba from its Central Emergency Response Fund.
Tragically, at least 20 people, including 10 children, died in Haiti due to severe flooding caused by the storm. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep condolences to affected families and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to work “hand in hand” with national authorities to assess needs and deliver aid. UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock also stressed that for small island developing states, the climate crisis is a daily reality—urging that global solidarity must translate into sustained and scaled-up climate action to ensure survival.
