Several days of torrential rains, storm surges and catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Melissa have impacted the lives of more than 700,000 children across the Caribbean, according to UNICEF estimates.
The strong storm that directly hit Jamaica and Cuba and affected the Caribbean islands of Haiti and the Dominican Republic has left a heavy toll of displaced children and families. Infrastructure has been left broken, crops destroyed, and essential services such as health and education have been disrupted.
UNICEF has prepositioned life-saving supplies and is supporting preparedness and response across the region:
- 4,000 water containers in Jamaica
- 2,900 hygiene kits in Haiti and 1,300 hygiene kits in eastern Cuba
- 4,000 additional hygiene kits, water purifiers, tents, and containers being shipped to Jamaica and Cuba
- Health facilities in Haiti stocked with nutrition supplies for one to three month
- 7,500 households in Haiti received anticipatory cash transfers
- 10,000 children and vulnerable families in Jamaica to receive emergency cash assistance through the PATH program
-1,000 hygiene kits and ensuring appropriate sanitation and hygiene conditions for children in the most affected communities in the Dominican Republic
UNICEF is leading and coordinating efforts in Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, and Social Protection sectors in Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica. UNICEF has already mobilized $1.7 million, and an additional $2 million is urgently needed to support preparedness and response.
Your support can help UNICEF’s ongoing response in the region, ensuring life-saving access for children and families to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); health and nutrition; education, child protection and social protection, including humanitarian cash assistance.
