Hurricane Melissa is approaching Jamaica and Haiti with winds up to 100 mph and expected to strengthen into a major hurricane, bringing extreme rainfall and life-threatening flooding, landslides, and storm surges across Jamaica, southern Haiti, and eastern Cuba. According to UNICEF estimates, at least 1.6 million children across the Caribbean are at risk, including 700,000 in Jamaica alone.
UNICEF has prepositioned life-saving supplies and is supporting preparedness 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
- 8,000 households in Haiti received anticipatory cash transfers
- 10,000 children and vulnerable families in Jamaica to receive emergency cash assistance through the PATH program
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.
