Over 700,000 Children Affected as Hurricane Melissa Devastates the Caribbean

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm over the devastating humanitarian crisis unfolding across the Caribbean following Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 5 storm that battered Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The agency estimates that more than 700,000 children have been directly impacted by torrential rains, storm surges, and catastrophic flooding, with tens of thousands displaced from their homes and critical infrastructure severely damaged.

A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds

According to UNICEF, Hurricane Melissa has caused widespread destruction across the region, washing away homes, crippling public infrastructure, and disrupting essential services such as healthcare, water supply, sanitation, and education. Croplands have been destroyed, leaving communities without food security, and power outages continue to paralyze local economies.

"In the wake of relentless floods across the Caribbean, hundreds of thousands of children have seen their lives upended suddenly," said Roberto Benes, UNICEF's Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. "Children urgently need food, safe drinking water and sanitation, access to health and nutrition services, and a path back to education."

Many of the hardest-hit communities remain inaccessible due to destroyed roads, collapsed bridges, and continuous flooding, hampering rescue and relief efforts. Families are trapped in submerged neighborhoods without electricity, communication, or access to clean water. In several countries, schools and health facilities have been converted into temporary shelters.

Jamaica: Ground Zero of the Storm

Jamaica bore the full force of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on the island as a Category 5 storm. The hurricane's powerful winds and torrential rains flattened homes and uprooted trees, while landslides isolated rural communities.

UNICEF has allocated an initial US$1 million emergency fund to assist in relief efforts in Jamaica. Working closely with the government, the organization is reaching more than 284,000 children with immediate assistance—providing nutrition support, clean water, sanitation, hygiene supplies, and psychosocial and mental health services for children traumatized by the disaster.

Local authorities report that more than 200 schools have suffered damage, disrupting education for tens of thousands of students. UNICEF is helping to establish temporary learning spaces and distribute education kits to restore access to schooling as quickly as possible.

Cuba: Restoring Essential Services

In Cuba, the hurricane caused extensive flooding along the northern and central coasts, damaging homes, health centers, and educational institutions. UNICEF is prioritizing efforts to restore access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services across affected provinces.

To support recovery, UNICEF is distributing an array of essential materials, including 1,300 hygiene kits, 213 recreation kits, 80 school supply kits, 209 early childhood kits, 1,900 roofing sheets, and 5,000 square meters of waterproof tarpaulins. Two portable water purification plants have also been deployed to ensure access to safe drinking water in flood-affected communities.

Efforts are also underway to help children return to school safely, with UNICEF coordinating repairs to damaged classrooms and supporting local governments in re-establishing child protection and health services.

Haiti: Lives Lost, Communities Shattered

In Haiti, the tropical storm claimed 20 lives, including 10 children, primarily in the southwestern region. Torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods that swept through towns and villages already struggling with deep poverty and political instability.

UNICEF has dispatched 2,900 hygiene kits and emergency health kits to meet the needs of 20,000 people, including treatment for 400 cases of acute watery diarrhoea caused by contaminated water sources. The agency also provided cash assistance to 7,500 vulnerable households in the south to help them meet basic needs.

In partnership with local youth networks, nearly 500 U-Reporters were mobilized to share emergency alerts and safety messages via SMS and WhatsApp, reaching over 137,000 people in real time. This rapid communication network played a critical role in community preparedness and coordination during the height of the storm.

Dominican Republic: Flooding and Landslides

The Dominican Republic also suffered extensive damage, with more than 60,000 people affected by widespread flooding and landslides. Dozens of rivers overflowed, cutting off rural communities and displacing families into shelters.

UNICEF is delivering 750 hygiene kits to ensure proper sanitation for children in the most affected areas and is supporting the government's response to ensure access to health and nutrition services for more than 20,000 children, women, and caregivers. Efforts are also being made to restore access to clean water and rebuild health centers damaged by the floods.

Regional Appeal and Urgent Needs

Across the Caribbean, UNICEF is coordinating with national authorities, humanitarian partners, and civil society organizations to assess the full scale of damage and mobilize aid. The agency has launched an emergency appeal of US$46.5 million to sustain its life-saving response and provide food, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, psychosocial support, and education to over 380,000 children and their families.

"Children across the Caribbean are facing not only the immediate devastation of Hurricane Melissa but also the longer-term risks of hunger, disease, and loss of education," Benes said. "The world must act urgently to ensure that they are not forgotten."

Climate Change and the Rising Threat to Children

Experts have linked the ferocity of Hurricane Melissa to rising sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic, a consequence of accelerating climate change. The Caribbean, one of the world's most disaster-prone regions, faces an increasing frequency of Category 4 and 5 storms, placing millions of children at heightened risk of displacement, disease, and malnutrition.

UNICEF has renewed its call for climate-resilient infrastructure and stronger disaster preparedness systems across the region. This includes early warning systems, emergency education programs, and investment in sustainable energy and water systems that can withstand extreme weather events.

"Hurricane Melissa is another stark reminder that climate change is not a distant threat—it is a daily reality for children in the Caribbean," Benes warned. "Protecting children means protecting their future from the climate crisis."

Global Solidarity and the Road Ahead

As floodwaters slowly recede, UNICEF and its partners are racing against time to reach stranded families, deliver aid, and restore critical services. The agency continues to urge international donors and governments to support its humanitarian appeal and help Caribbean nations recover from one of the most destructive hurricanes in recent memory.

The path to recovery will be long, but UNICEF insists that with swift global action and sustained commitment, the region's children can rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures.