Source: UN News: Thursday, 30 October 2025 00:01 AM
Hurricane Melissa is expected to make a devastating impact on the Caribbean region with torrential rains and gale-force winds, putting at least 1.6 million children at risk. Families in the region’s Jamaica, Haiti and surrounding islands are bracing to face floods, landslides and widespread disruption. Melissa is currently a Category 4 hurricane that is moving slowly in the Caribbean Sea. The storm is expected to strengthen to a Category 5 with sustained winds of at least 157 mph. Tweet URL
Countries in the region, including Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, are expected to experience several days of intense weather. There is also a possibility of infrastructure collapse and essential services being disrupted.United Nations Children’s Fund ,Unicef“Preparing for the arrival of this storm is critical to reducing damage and loss of life to the most vulnerable communities, particularly in the Caribbean,” said Roberto Baines, WHO’s Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “Small islands are always the most vulnerable to extreme climate events.” “UNICEF helps strengthen national capacities to anticipate and respond to climate emergencies, and to provide essential services for children,” she said. “This is essential to protect those who need it most.” Adequate stocks of supplies UN agencies and partners have provided to support vulnerable families, including hygiene items, water purification, Life-saving supplies, including medical kits and cash distributions, have already been prepared. In Haiti, to mitigate the impact of the storm, 450 metric tons of food has been pre-positioned in the southern region and cash has been provided to 9,500 families. Approximately 3,400 hygiene kits, non-food items, and shelter for 44,000 families and 11,000 people have been provided. Medical kits have also been prepared. In Jamaica, the Red Cross and local authorities have started taking timely action. They have prepared emergency shelters and stockpiled relief supplies for approximately 165,000 people in high-risk areas. Communities are already facing heavy rainfall and high winds, and weather officials fear flood levels could exceed those of Hurricane Beryl 16 months ago. The storm and floods caused severe financial and infrastructure damage. Flooding is expected to be severe in low-lying areas, coastal and informal settlements, and heavy rainfall is likely to trigger landslides in mountainous areas. Ports, airports and key infrastructure may also be disrupted, complicating emergency assistance response. Increasing risksAccording to UNICEF, over the past decade, about 1 10 million people are directly affected by disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean each year. These include approximately 4 million children. As the typhoon approaches, national officials are urging communities to follow safety guidelines, evacuate vulnerable areas and seek shelter. UN agencies are continuing to contact and coordinate with country governments and partners, emphasizing the protection of children and the most vulnerable populations.
