Mobilization of Essential Supplies for Hurricane Melissa Response – PAHO. As of 13 Nov. 2025

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, formed on October 21, 2025, and struck Jamaica on October 28, becoming one of the most intense hurricanes in the Caribbean in decades. The storm impacted Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Dominican Republic, causing severe damage in Jamaica and further straining fragile health systems in Cuba and Haiti.

PAHO activated its Strategic Emergency Reserve in Panama to airlift medical kits, surgical equipment, generators, and protective gear. This rapid deployment contributed to securing continuity of health services and lifesaving care in Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba. By November 13, 2025, 15 tons of essential supplies had been delivered.