Aid Groups Support Recovery One Year After Hurricane Melissa Hits Jamaica

Direct Relief reported that humanitarian organizations are supporting recovery efforts in the Caribbean one year after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in October 2025. The storm struck Jamaica near the town of Black River as a Category 5 storm, making it the strongest hurricane in the history of the country. According to Direct Relief, the hurricane caused 45 deaths in Jamaica, 43 in Haiti, four in the Dominican Republic, and one in Cuba. [1]

Direct Relief reported that the storm caused severe infrastructure damage, including to hospitals and health centers across Jamaica. The hurricane also caused flooding and displacement in Haiti and Cuba, alongside weeks of power outages and water supply issues across the region. Convoy of Hope, FOX Weather, AccuWeather, and The World from PRX all noted the one year anniversary of the storm's impact. [1][2][5][6][7]

Hurricane Melissa is tied as the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record by maximum sustained winds of 190 miles per hour, matching Hurricane Allen. The storm tracked across Cuba and the Bahamas after weakening from its initial landfall in southwestern Jamaica. [1][9]

Relief organizations have shifted focus toward long term recovery in affected communities. The Jamaica Red Cross is working on livelihood programs to help rural families regain independence, while Direct Relief continues to provide medical and regional support. [1][4]