Millions of people across the Caribbean are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Melissa as it reached Category 5 status on Monday – the most powerful on the scale – defined by sustained winds of at least 157 mph (252 kmh).
“Destructive winds, dangerous storm surge, and catastrophic rainfall” are due to hit the region, warned UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Continuing to work closely with Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams, the UN is due to deploy additional staff to Cuba and Jamaica this week, as part of wider efforts to bolster emergency preparedness and coordinate response operations on the ground.
In a post on X, OCHA said preparations had been strengthened in Cuba, including:
More than 100 tons of rice for the eastern part of the country
Hygiene kits for 6,500 people
Fuel bonds
Ongoing prevention messages
In addition, the UN has allocated around $4 million for Cuba from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) ahead of the storm.
Moreover, special focus is being placed on Haiti, a nation already grappling with gang violence, disease, and gender-based violence. OCHA and its partners are assisting national authorities in strengthening preparedness and mitigating the hurricane’s potential impacts.
