A month after Hurricane Melissa carved a path of destruction through the Caribbean, millions of people continue to endure catastrophic living conditions, with days-long queues for fuel, rampant disease outbreaks, and widespread homelessness defining the grim reality.
The category 5 storm, dubbed the 'storm of the century', made landfall on 29 October 2025, unleashing 185mph winds and devastating floods. The United Nations estimates that at least six million people were impacted, with a confirmed death toll of at least 106 people and a staggering $10bn worth of damage left in its wake.
A Region in Crisis: Fuel, Food, and Disease
In Cuba, the situation remains particularly dire. According to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), queues for fuel now stretch for days, food is scarce, and a mere 40 per cent of the country has electricity. Even major cities are experiencing severe blackouts, receiving only four to six hours of power per day.
These fuel and power shortages have severely disrupted daily life, with people unable to refrigerate food. Compounding the crisis, water shortages have led to viral diseases spreading 'like wildfire'.
Nicolas Segura, the IFRC's disaster risk management coordinator for Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, reported that there are 700 new cases of chikungunya every day, with over 50,000 people hospitalised with mosquito-borne illnesses since the disaster. "There is zika, dengue, chikungunya," Segura stated, linking the outbreak to extensive flooding where "the sea penetrated almost 100m to 200m in some places."
Scenes of Utter Destruction and Lasting Trauma
The Red Cross operated through the eye of the hurricane as it struck, witnessing scenes of utter devastation. Segura described mighty trees snapped like branches and concrete houses flattened. "It’s like everything was cut with blades," he said, painting a picture of a landscape utterly transformed.
Beyond the physical damage, the psychological scars run deep, particularly for children. Segura recounted seeing fear in their eyes when they spoke of the wind's noise. He shared the poignant story of a 13-year-old boy who felt an inexplicable guilt, telling him, "I don’t know why it happened, but I know it was my fault."
The scale of displacement is immense. The United Nations confirms that over 53,000 people are unable to return home, including 7,500 living in official shelters. While the Red Cross is aiding 1,500 families (5,050 individuals), the number of people in need across the region exceeds two million.
An Uphill Battle for Recovery
International aid efforts are struggling to meet the enormous need. The Red Cross has launched a £15m fundraising appeal to help 100,000 people, but so far, only 16 per cent of the necessary funds have been raised. Sanctions are cited as a factor crippling recovery in Cuba, complicating the humanitarian response.
In Jamaica, the devastation is equally severe. At least 45 people were killed, and thousands have been left homeless. Kamisha Swabe, a response coordinator for Project Hope, noted that some survivors "only had the shirts on their backs." She described a landscape where cell towers were twisted and concrete light poles smashed, with once-lush areas stripped bare, resembling "winter in the UK."
Rebuilding and reconstruction in Jamaica could take over a decade. The disaster also triggered a public health emergency, with outbreaks of Leptospirosis from contaminated floodwaters and even deaths from Tetanus as people attempted to repair their homes.
In Haiti, the outer bands of the storm caused fatal flooding, killing at least 43 people. Despite the overwhelming challenges, a spirit of solidarity and resilience persists. Segura emphasised that international support is crucial, stating, "Changing someone’s life is about giving them dignity." He urged the world to support the incredible people of the Caribbean as they strive to recover from this historic catastrophe.
