Cuba | Hurricane Melissa - Revised Emergency Appeal (MDRCU013)

Country: Cuba Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. SITUATION OVERVIEW Hurricane Melissa developed from a tropical wave on 25 October 2025 and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm, becoming one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Caribbean. After striking Jamaica, the hurricane made landfall in Santiago de Cuba on 29 October as a Category 3 storm, with sustained winds of 125 mph (195 km/h). The hurricane produced extreme rainfall, resulting in catastrophic flooding, landslides and other significant storm-surge impacts. Despite extensive preparedness efforts by the Cuban authorities and the Cuban Red Cross (CRC), including the evacuation of approximately 735,000 people, 1 the hurricane caused severe damage to homes, schools, health facilities, water and electricity systems, crops, livestock, and fishing assets. The eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Holguín suffered the most extensive destruction, with more than 215,000 homes damaged, impacting approximately 645,000 people. 2 Although displacement decreased over time, around 2,760 people were still displaced as of 17 December 2025. Recovery in these provinces is particularly challenging due to pre-existing vulnerabilities and the cumulative effect of prior disasters, such as Hurricane Oscar in 2024, combined with outbreaks of dengue, oropouche, and chikungunya. Heavy rains following the hurricane intensified mosquito proliferation, triggering further transmission and placing additional pressure on an already strained health system. While the country is still addressing the direct impacts of Hurricane Melissa, the national situation has been worsened by extreme energy instability and limitations. Cuba is facing acute fuel shortages. This has resulted in nationwide electricity instability and prolonged blackouts lasting up to 20 hours per day in some provinces. During full nationwide grid collapses, such as the one reported on 16 March 2026, the impact extended to virtually the entire population of the country, affecting an estimated 10 million people. Fuel scarcity has become the primary systemic shock driving deterioration across all sectors. Power cuts are severely affecting water pumping, sanitation systems, waste management and food distribution. More than 80 per cent of Cuba's water pumping equipment depends on electricity, and recurrent blackouts are severely disrupting access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene across the country. In addition, close to one million people depend on water tanker trucks, many of which are unable to operate consistently because of fuel shortages. Solid waste collection has collapsed due to the inability of vehicles to operate, creating serious public health and environmental risks. Agricultural production has declined sharply because of shortages of fuel and pesticides, with reports of produce spoiling in warehouses. Household food preparation and preservation have become increasingly difficult, leading to worsening nutrition and food insecurity. Health service continuity is also severely affected. Power instability puts at risk neonatal and intensive care units, dialysis services, radiotherapy, and cold chain systems essential for vaccines and temperature-sensitive medicines. An estimated 96,387 people – including over 11,000 children – are on surgical waiting lists, with non-urgent surgeries suspended due to power constraints. Approximately 30,000 children risk delayed vaccinations, while 32,000 pregnant women face growing challenges in accessing essential diagnostic care. The inability to move health personnel further restricts service availability. Cuba now faces a complex, multi-layered situation where the impacts of Hurricane Melissa intersect with disease outbreaks. Essential services such as water, health, food systems, sanitation, and emergency response capacity, are under severe strain. Without urgent support, these compounding pressures risk further deterioration in living conditions, heightened vulnerability, and significant barriers to recovery for millions of people.

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