Hurricane Melissa hits the Caribbean
On the evening of October 28, 2025 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in the Caribbean with wind speeds of more than 259 km/h. The hurricane hit Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic heavily and is now racing on over Cuba toward the Bahamas.
The hurricane caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure throughout the region. Electricity and communication lines are currently down. There have already been 7 deaths - three in Jamaica, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic. These figures will only increase in the coming hours and days.
Authorities in Jamaica declared the country a disaster area.
How can you help?
Financial support is most effective at this stage. Donations are welcome at BE53 0000 0000 5353, marked "Hurricane Melissa. Every contribution, large or small, helps save lives and address the most urgent needs.
Updates
Donderdag 4 december 2025 - 1 maand na Orkaan Melissa blijven de uitdagingen enorm
Een maand geleden trok orkaan Melissa over Jamaica. De storm was de zwaarste orkaan die het land sinds het begin van de metingen heeft getroffen.
Dankzij tijdige waarschuwingen bleef het aantal slachtoffers beperkt tot ongeveer 40 mensen, maar de materiële schade is enorm. Grote delen van het land zitten nog steeds zonder elektriciteit of netwerk. In totaal werden 1,9 miljoen mensen getroffen door de ramp en tienduizenden hebben nog steeds geen veilig onderdak. Het Jamaicaanse ministerie van Gezondheidszorg meldt ook een uitbraak van leptospirose, een bacteriële infectieziekte die verspreid wordt via water. De uitbraak zou ook al aan zes personen het leven gekost hebben.
Het Jamaicaanse Rode Kruis heeft momenteel te maken met enorme uitdagingen om de getroffen gebieden te bereiken vanwege omgevallen elektriciteitskabels, aardverschuivingen en onbegaanbare wegen.
Ondanks de moeilijkheden zijn teams van het Rode Kruis actief op het terrein en verdelen ze hulpgoederen aan de getroffen gemeenschappen. Het gaat over water en voedselpakketten, maar ook dekens, zeilen en gereedschap zodat gezinnen hun vernielde woningen tijdelijk kunnen afschermen of herstellen. Voorts verdelen de afdelingen schoonmaakpakketten en hygiënekits zodat getroffenen in persoonlijke hygiëne kunnen blijven voorzien.
Het Rode Kruis biedt ook psychosociale ondersteuning aan de getroffen bevolking die vaak worstelen met het trauma van de orkaan en stress over de toekomst. Tot slot zetten de lokale afdelingen in het informeren van de lokale bevolking over de risico's van de verspreiding van infectieziekten zoals leptospirose.
Op dit moment zijn er nog ongeveer 88 opvangcentra in gebruik, waarvan acht worden beheerd door het Jamaicaanse Rode Kruis.
Friday, October 31, 2025 - Belgian Red Cross-Flanders already collects 30,000 euros for relief efforts in Jamaica
Four days after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the extent of the disaster is becoming increasingly clear. In Jamaica, entire villages and communities have been destroyed, bridges and roads washed away and thousands of homes damaged.
According to the Jamaican government, 13,000 people are now staying in emergency shelters and 490,000 residents are without electricity. In Cuba, too, the impact has been enormous, with nearly one million homes affected, 200,000 of them severely damaged. Melissa has left dozens dead, although the death toll is likely to rise in the coming days as rescue operations continue and damage is further assessed. Currently, the Red Cross estimates the cost of immediate emergency relief at more than 35 million euros.
28 tons of emergency relief supplies
More than 400 shelters have opened in Jamaica, 50 of which are managed by the Jamaican Red Cross. Volunteers in these shelters distribute emergency relief supplies, provide first aid, psychosocial support and support families who lost contact with their relatives to find each other again. The Red Cross is distributing emergency relief supplies such as potable water, hygiene kits, blankets and cleaning kits to thousands of families. A 28-ton charter flight carrying materials for another 1,800 families is currently en route to Jamaica from Panama, along with two containers arriving soon.
In Cuba, 735,000 people were evacuated from coastal and low-lying areas, while 140,000 were cut off by rising rivers. The Cuban Red Cross has 35,000 volunteers specializing in disaster response, first aid and search and rescue. It has so far rescued nearly 400 people from disaster zones. In addition, teams are preparing to distribute 1,000 emergency relief kits to evacuated families.
30,000 euros
"The next few days are crucial for saving lives. Red Cross teams are fully engaged in search and rescue, emergency shelter and distribution of relief supplies," said Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. "We are only now beginning to see the extent of the devastation. To secure the relief operation, it is estimated that more than 35 million euros are needed."
Thanks to the solidarity of the public, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders has so far collected nearly 30,000 euros. These funds will be used by Red Cross partners in the field for food aid, shelter, medical care, drinking water and psychosocial support. Donations remain welcome at BE53 0000 0000 5353 with the mention 'Hurricane Melissa'.
Every gift makes a difference.