Haiti: Tropical Storm Melissa - Flash Update No.3 (as of 28 October 2025)

This report is produced with the support of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with humanitarian partners and based on available information.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has now classified Melissa as a Category 5 hurricane as of 27 October.
• On 27 October, the Artibonite and North-West departments were placed under orange alert, and the Artibonite Departmental Emergency Operations Centre (COUD) was activated on 28 October.
• The Nippes department was placed under red alert on 28 October.
• The World Food Programme (WFP) has pre-positioned 452 metric tons of food in the Grand Sud, with an additional 360 tons available from Port-au-Prince—enough to assist around 86,000 people for two weeks.
• The International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the preventive sheltering of 3,000 people in the South and Grand ‘Anse, through the activation of 100 shelters and 253 Civil Protection brigadiers.
• The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has pre-positioned 2,900 water, hygiene and sanitation kits for 14,500 people, and provided nutrition supplies to 176 health facilities covering 4,175 children across the Grand Sud.
• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) pre-positioned sexual and reproductive health kits covering 4,200 births, 180 cases of rape, 525 obstetric surgeries and 240 post-abortion complications, and plans to distribute 4,000 dignity kits in the coming days.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has upgraded Melissa to a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level, with extremely strong winds capable of causing major damage. Although the system remains intense, Haiti is under a tropical storm alert, as the hurricane’s core is not expected to make direct landfall on the country.

On 25 October, the Government adjusted alert levels: the South and Grand ‘Anse departments were placed under red alert, Nippes and the South-East under orange cyclonic alert, and the West under orange alert for heavy rains. The National Emergency Operations Centre remains fully activated.

As of the morning of 27 October, Melissa was located south of Jamaica, moving gradually northward, potentially approaching Haiti in the following hours. The Artibonite and North-West departments are now under orange alert, due to expected worsening weather conditions.

Peripheral rain bands continue to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and rough seas, mainly over the southern peninsula and parts of the West. The Grand ‘Anse department is at high risk of renewed strong winds by Tuesday morning.

According to the Civil Protection Directorate, since the start of the episode, three deaths and 16 injuries have been reported. Nearly 450 houses were flooded and 10 houses damaged, mainly in the North-West. Road access remains cut in Moron (Grand ‘Anse), Baie d’Orange and Marigot (South-East), as well as Lascahobas (Centre).

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports damage to agricultural livelihoods in the South, Grand ‘Anse and South-East departments, including the loss of banana, avocado, maize, bean and pigeon pea crops, livestock losses in the South-East, and the destruction of fishing gear. Fishing activities remain suspended.