On Tuesday, 28 October 2025, a devastating hurricane, Melissa, struck Jamaica, causing flooding and widespread destruction. The hurricane then swept across Cuba on Wednesday, 29 October, and is now affecting Haiti and other countries in the region.
Brice de le Vingne, head of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emergency unit, responds to the hurricane with the following quote:
“We express our deep regret at the tragic loss of life and destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, and our solidarity with everyone who has been affected."
The airports in Jamaica are currently closed, but MSF is preparing to send emergency teams specialising in healthcare, logistics and water and sanitation to respond. We are also preparing supplies to be sent once the airports reopen, so that we can provide people with general healthcare and essential items such as medical kits, non-food items and critical materials for the provision of safe water, depending on the needs identified.
We express our deep regret at the tragic loss of life and destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, and our solidarity with everyone who has been affected.Brice de le Vingne, head of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) emergency unit
The hurricane has also caused some flooding and damage in Haiti, where MSF is running medical activities. Although our teams have not witnessed significant needs caused by the hurricane, in Port-au-Prince our main concerns are the possibility of more heavy rain. Our teams are preparing contingency measures, such as securing equipment and medicines for our existing projects, in the event of flooding; we remain ready to respond in other parts of the country if needed.
MSF teams are in touch with people in countries affected to understand their most pressing immediate needs. Although we are not present in some of the affected countries, we know from our more than 50 years’ experience responding to emergencies that people will have immediate needs for food and shelter. They will also have medical needs.
Disasters can affect continuity of care and people’s access to essential medicines for non-communicable and other diseases, and this disaster will highlight people’s need for mental health care. It is also critical that people are able to access clean water to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases.”
MSF continues to assess the impact of this disaster on communities in other countries in the region.
MSF regrets to announce the permanent closure of its Emergency Centre Turgeau in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
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