FAO has activated support to anticipate the possible effects of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has increased its efforts to implement anticipatory actions and support impact analyses related to Hurricane Melissa. These efforts aim to inform response planning, focusing on rural communities, agricultural systems, and food security in several Caribbean countries.

Melissa made landfall as a Category 5 storm on October 28 near Black River in Jamaica's St. Elizabeth Parish, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall as it moves northward through the Caribbean.

In coordination with national governments, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and other UN agencies, FAO has launched anticipatory actions in Cuba and initiated impact analyses in Jamaica and Haiti. The goal is to protect agricultural livelihoods and the food security of the most vulnerable communities.

"FAO is mobilizing its technical capabilities and on-the-ground presence to support Caribbean countries in their response to Hurricane Melissa. Our priority is safeguarding food security, restoring rural livelihoods, and supporting communities in their recovery,” said Luiz Beduschi, FAO Senior Policy Officer for Territorial Development.

Actions in Cuba

FAO is implementing a set of anticipatory actions in Cuba, funded by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). These actions aim to reduce agricultural losses and safeguard food security.

Through the project, "Anticipatory Actions to Protect and Maintain Food Security and Production Capacity of Vulnerable Communities Exposed to and Affected by Hurricanes in Cuba," which received total funding of USD 510,000, the FAO is collaborating closely with the Cuban Ministries of Agriculture and Food Industry, with technical support from the FAO Cuba office and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Before the storm made landfall, 500 kilograms of vegetable seeds, over 14,000 square meters of roofing sheets, 15 irrigation systems, and supplies for greenhouses and semi-protected structures were distributed in eastern Cuba. Chainsaws and rehabilitation materials were also provided. These measures will directly benefit 15,268 people and indirectly benefit around 54,000 more through early warning systems.

Actions in Jamaica

The FAO stands ready to deploy a specialized technical team on disaster risk reduction and resilience to Jamaica as soon as conditions allow. The team will conduct a rapid assessment of agricultural damage and food security needs in coordination with national authorities.

The information gathered will guide immediate support measures for family farmers and rural communities affected by the loss of crops, livestock, and productive assets.

Actions in Haiti

FAO has conducted an initial impact assessment in Haiti indicating losses in bean, corn, and fruit crops, as well as damage to fishing infrastructure, rural roads, and delays in winter planting. Currently, more than 1.4 million people in southern Haiti face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3), including 350,000 people in Phase 4 (Emergency).

In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development (MARNDR) and technical partners, FAO is supplementing impact data with analyses of vegetation and crop changes to identify flooded areas and prioritize interventions in the hardest-hit regions.

FAO has 1,000 pre-positioned emergency food production kits in Port-au-Prince that will be sent to the Grand Sud region along with activities that rapidly restore livelihoods.

"Taking action in advance helps reduce the impact of hurricanes like Melissa and strengthens the resilience of vulnerable Caribbean communities to climate extremes. Anticipatory action is a vital tool for safeguarding rural livelihoods and saving lives before disasters strike,” said Luiz Beduschi.