The Caribbean: Hurricane Melissa - Flash Update No. 5 (as of 8 November 2025)

KEY POINTS

• Hurricane Melissa affected more than 5 million people across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, killing at least 75 people and displacing or forcing the evacuation of over 770,000.
• In Jamaica, more than 4.8 million tonnes of debris continue to block roads and public spaces, while around 30 communities remain cut off, hampering relief and recovery operations.
• In Cuba, the UN System launched a US$74 million Plan of Action to assist one million people across four eastern provinces.
• In Haiti, the UN and partners are scaling up operations in the Grand Sud region, where 43 deaths have been confirmed and over 1,700 people remain displaced across 10 shelters.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricane Melissa struck western Jamaica on 28 October and moved across eastern Cuba the following day, affecting more than 5 million people across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti. The storm killed at least 75 people, displaced or forced the evacuation of over 778,000, and destroyed tens of thousands of homes, schools, and other buildings.

In the three countries, some communities remain cut off, with access and logistics constraints slowing assessments and the delivery of life-saving aid.