🌪️ Hurricane Melissa’s Wake: How Cuba and Haiti Are Picking Up the Pieces

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A Region Tested, A People United

Residents wade through a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in Petit-Goave, Haiti, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

Nature’s fury has once again tested the Caribbean. Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm, tore across the region in late October 2025, leaving behind destruction, grief, and stories of survival.

While Jamaica took a direct hit, both Haiti and Cuba have faced devastating secondary impacts — from catastrophic flooding to mass displacement — reminding us how deeply connected we are as a Caribbean family.

🇭🇹 Haiti: Floods, Loss, and the Struggle to Rebuild

Scene from Les Cayes, Haiti, in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the category 4 storm which made landfall in the country on 4 October.

In southern Haiti, the storm’s torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides, especially in Petit-Goâve, where overflowing rivers swallowed homes and roads.

At least 20 people lost their lives, including several children. More than 160 homes were damaged or destroyed, and over 11,000 residents remain in temporary shelters. Aid organisations warn of rising humanitarian needs — clean water, food, and medical care are top priorities.

Yet amid the hardship, Haiti’s resilience shines through. Local volunteers, community leaders, and diaspora networks are stepping up, proving once again that the Haitian spirit can withstand even the fiercest storms.

🇨🇺 Cuba: Preparedness, Damage, and Determined Recovery

In Cuba, government-led evacuations saved countless lives. Over 735,000 people were moved from vulnerable areas across Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Guantánamo before the storm struck.

Although Cuba has reported no confirmed fatalities, the physical damage is extensive. Power lines are down, communications are disrupted, and thousands of homes and farms have suffered losses. Crops such as coffee, cassava, and bananas were destroyed, significantly impacting local livelihoods.

Even so, Cuba’s rapid response and organised recovery efforts highlight the nation’s long-standing commitment to disaster preparedness — a model that continues to protect its people year after year.

🌴 Caribbean Resilience in Motion

Hurricane Melissa’s destruction serves as another urgent reminder that climate change is not a future threat — it’s here. Stronger storms, heavier rainfall, and longer recovery periods have become the new reality for many Caribbean islands.

But just as powerful as the storm is the Caribbean spirit of unity and resilience. Across the diaspora — from Toronto to Trinidad, London to Kingston — people are mobilising to support relief efforts and amplify the call for regional climate action.