Hurricane Melissa Causes Widespread Damage Across Jamaica and Cuba

Hurricane Melissa wreaked havoc in Jamaica and Cuba, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The United Nations has announced a 74 million dollar action plan to assist one million Cubans affected by this devastating storm, which struck eastern provinces on October 29, 2025.

Preliminary assessments indicate that over 60,000 homes were either destroyed or lost their roofs due to the hurricane's impact, with many communities cut off by flooding and landslides. In Holguin and Granma provinces, entire towns remain submerged, and tens of thousands of residents have lost all household belongings, forcing many into makeshift shelters in schools and homes of relatives.

Around 120,000 people are currently in shelters, according to the U.N. coordinating office in Cuba. The humanitarian situation is dire, with critical disruptions to housing, basic services, and food security affecting the population.

Approximately half of the 2.2 million people severely impacted are women, with a significant percentage living in rural areas, making recovery even more challenging. The hurricane also caused severe damage to educational and healthcare facilities, affecting 1,552 schools and 461 hospitals and clinics, including the crucial Juan Bruno Zayas Hospital, which has struggled to provide essential services to vulnerable patients.

The U.N. has released four million dollars in emergency funding, with an additional seven million unlocked, but there remains a funding gap of 64 million dollars to meet the needs of the affected population.

The U.S. government has authorized three million dollars in emergency aid, which will be distributed through the Catholic Church and humanitarian organizations like Caritas. Despite the Cuban government's acknowledgment of the U.S. offer, challenges remain due to ongoing U.S. sanctions, which limit access to international financial support.

Humanitarian efforts are being mobilized from various global entities, including Venezuela, Colombia, and Spain, all contributing to recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Cuban officials, including President Miguel Diaz-Canel, have visited affected regions, emphasizing the absence of casualties, unlike past disasters where response efforts were criticized.

However, reports indicate that many officials arrived in these areas without immediate aid to distribute. As recovery efforts continue, the focus remains on restoring basic services and addressing the urgent needs of those affected by Hurricane Melissa.