Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 12 December 2025

KEY FIGURES

• 3.49M people may require food assistance between Nov 2025 -May 2026 in Haiti
• 215K homes affected in Cuba by Hurricane Melissa
• 2.4K metric tons of relief supplies have been received in Jamaica by CDEMA & WFP

CARIBBEAN: HURRICANE MELISSA

More than six weeks after Hurricane Melissa, countries across the Caribbean continue to face significant challenges. Governments and partners are prioritizing safe shelter management, essential service restoration and debris-removal planning to stabilize affected communities.

CUBA: Current assessments indicate that Melissa damaged more than 215,000 homes across Cuba, though IOM anticipates this could increase to 300,000 as assessments conclude. Some 2,669 people remain displaced and service disruptions persist. The epidemiological situation is rapidly deteriorating, with ongoing transmission of various diseases, including febrile illnesses, Chikungunya and dengue. Humanitarian partners are working alongside national authorities to address urgent needs, with the Plan of Action aiming to target 1 million affected people.

HAITI: The impacts of Melissa affected more than 245,500 people and continue to affect communities across southern and western Haiti. It significantly worsened food security conditions in several regions, with substantial agricultural losses, damage to irrigation infrastructure and road blockages limiting food availability and household agricultural income. Between November 2025 and May 2026, FEWS NET estimates that between 3.0 and 3.49 million people will require food assistance.

JAMAICA: Despite the transition towards early recovery, significant humanitarian needs remain across Jamaica, where Melissa affected more than 739,000 people. Persistent flooding, debris and disruption in water systems is driving health concerns, with a confirmed leptospirosis outbreak and rising cases of dengue, diarrhoeal illness and tetanus. Humanitarian organizations continue to deliver assistance alongside regional and national partners. WFP and CDEMA have so far coordinated 99 shipments with 2,400 metric tons of relief supplies from 50 organizations.

COLOMBIA: ARMED VIOLENCE

A non-state armed group (NSAG) announced an armed strike in southern Colombia that took effect on 9 December and is expected to remain in force until 30 December. The measure prohibits the movement of all types of vehicles and vessels along the Caguán and Caquetá rivers, as well as key streams and major road networks that connect rural and Indigenous communities in Amazonas, Caquetá, and Putumayo, disrupting transportation and supply routes. This restriction could cause severe shortages, leaving communities without food or essential goods during the Christmas season.

REGIONAL: MIGRATION

Irregular migration trends across Latin America and the Caribbean remain highly variable, with contexts differing sharply by corridor. Despite this variability, the humanitarian implications are consistent, with growing needs, increasing protection risks, and mounting pressure on local response systems. South-bound flows remained broadly stable, with 19,361 migrants recorded from Panama toward Colombia since February. Costa Rica recorded more than 1,800 stranded migrants in public spaces or shelters. Stricter enforcement measures across Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Mexico pushed people toward more dangerous irregular routes, contributing to rising incidents of extortion, fraud, trafficking, and drownings. Several countries reported ongoing needs for shelter, food, transportation assistance, documentation support, and health services.