Hurricane Melissa: UN launches sea-lift operation to deliver aid

Latest news reports say wind speeds have reached 165mph (270km/h) while storm surges of 13 feet (3.9 metres) are expected to lash the Caribbean island nation.

Conditions are expected to significantly worsen with a third of the island already experiencing power cuts amid what US hurricane forecasters are describing as “an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation.”

The World Food Programme (WFP) is coordinating a sea-lift operation from Barbados, carrying essential supplies from the International Organization for Migration, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and WFP itself.

“Some 2,000 relief kits are also planned for deployment once airports reopen and the weather conditions permit flights”, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

In collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and a joint aid hub established in Barbados, WFP is “instrumental” in the ongoing disaster response, with support from the European Union and Canada, emphasised Mr. Dujarric. 

UN ramps up relief efforts 

The slow-moving hurricane is expected to make landfall overnight local time in Cuba, to the northeast – with authorities planning to evacuate around half a million people to safer ground.

In Haiti, authorities have placed the departments of South and Grand’Anse on red alert, while other areas remain on orange alert.

“More than 3,600 people are sheltering in emergency sites in the Grand Sud département, with IOM supporting sheltering of 3,000 people preventively and the setting up of 100 shelters”, underscored Mr. Dujarric.

In addition, the UN and its partners continue to work closely with Haitian authorities to support preparedness and early action.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Melissa making landfall near New Hope, in western Jamaica.

Here is what UN agencies have lined up so far: 

• WFP has pre-positioned more than 800 metric tons of food to assist 86,000 people in Haiti for two weeks.
• UNICEF has pre-positioned water, sanitation, and hygiene kits for about 14,500 people and nutritional supplies for more than 4,000 children.
• The UN reproductive health agency (UNFPA) has stocked reproductive health kits for 5,000 people and dignity kits for 4,000 people
• The WHO-led Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has provided medical kits for about 11,000 people.

‘Tremendous winds’

The latest forecasts indicate winds reaching 280km per hour – stronger than initially expected, according to the UNESCO Representative in Jamaica, Eric Falt.

“People often overlook the storm surge”, he told us, “which can raise sea levels by three or four meters”.

He also noted that Hurricane Melissa is a slow-moving storm, which poses a major problem.

“It could stay over an area for 12 hours, maybe even two days or more, which causes massive water accumulation.”

Emphasising the Jamaican Government’s “extraordinary” level of preparedness and the strong sense of solidarity across the Caribbean, the UNESCO representative noted that, despite the UN’s extensive readiness efforts, “nature ultimately dictates her will.”

He added that UN agencies continue to work closely together to respond to the evolving situation.