By Vibhu Mishra
26 October 2025
Currently a
Category 4 storm and moving slowly across the Caribbean Sea,
Melissa is forecast to strengthen to Category 5, with
sustained winds of at least 157 mph (about 252
kmh).
Countries across the region, including Jamaica,
Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, are expected to
endure several days of intense weather, amid fears that
infrastructure could be overwhelmed and essential services
disrupted.
“All efforts to prepare for the arrival
of hurricane are vital to mitigate damage and loss of life
in the most vulnerable communities, especially in regions
like the Caribbean. Small islands always face heightened
vulnerability to extreme climate events,” said Roberto
Benes, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at UN
Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“UNICEF helps strengthen
national capacities to anticipate and respond to
climate-related emergencies and to deliver essential
services for children. This is fundamental to protecting
those who need it most.”
Preparedness and
humanitarian response
UN agencies and partners have
pre-positioned lifesaving supplies, including hygiene
materials, water purifiers, medical kits and cash transfers
to support vulnerable families.
In Haiti, 450 metric
tons of food has been prepositioned and cash transfers
provided to 9,500 households in the south to mitigate the
storm’s impact. About 3,400 hygiene kits, non-food items
and shelter for 44,000 households and medical kits for
11,000 people have also been positioned.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
In Jamaica,
the Red Cross and local authorities have mobilised early,
preparing emergency shelters and stockpiling relief items
for some 165,000 people in high-risk parishes, including
Saint Elizabeth, Clarendon, Saint Catherine, Kingston, Saint
Thomas and Portland.
Communities brace for
impact
Communities are already experiencing heavy
rainfall and gusty winds, and forecasters warn that flooding
could surpass that caused by Hurricane Beryl 16 months ago,
which left significant financial and infrastructural
damage.
Flooding is expected to be severe in
low-lying, coastal and informal settlements, with heavy
rainfall likely to trigger landslides in mountainous areas.
Ports, airports and key infrastructure could also be
disrupted, complicating emergency response.
There are
also reports of deaths and injuries. In Haiti, three people
were killed and one severely injured in a landslide in the
western part of capital Port-au-Prince. A death has also
been reported in the Dominican Republic.
Rising risks
for the Caribbean
Over the past decade, approximately
11 million people, including nearly four million children,
were directly affected each year by disasters across Latin
America and the Caribbean, according to UNICEF.
As the
storm approaches, national authorities are urging
communities to follow safety guidance, evacuate vulnerable
areas and seek shelter.
UN agencies continue to
coordinate with governments and partners, emphasising the
protection of children and the most vulnerable
populations.
