The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced on Monday its delivery of essential resources to Cuba to bolster early response efforts as Hurricane Melissa looms over the eastern provinces of the island.
According to a statement on the organization's Facebook page, the aid package includes crucial materials and equipment aimed at mitigating damage to homes and essential services following the tropical cyclone's impact.
The shipment comprises:
- 4,000 tarps for temporary roof coverage.
- 7 electric generators.
- 6 chainsaws.
- 259 specialized and basic toolkits for roof repairs.
- 2,000 single-person mattresses.
Additional resources will be analyzed and mobilized as conditions evolve in the affected areas.
The UNDP explained that these supplies are part of its strategy for swift disaster preparedness and response, strategically prepositioned throughout the country to ensure immediate distribution in the event of damage.
This initiative is supported by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and aligns with the United Nations System in Cuba's efforts, coordinating with national authorities and Civil Defense to confront the meteorological threat.
"The goal is to support national early recovery efforts and alleviate the suffering of affected families," the organization stated in its communication.
The Looming Threat of Hurricane Melissa
Hurricane Melissa continues its path toward eastern Cuba as a formidable Category 5 system on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds reaching 270 kilometers per hour and even stronger gusts, making it one of the most intense cyclones to threaten the island in over a century.
If Melissa maintains its current strength upon landfall, it could rival or even surpass Cuba's most powerful hurricanes in history, such as those of 1924 and 1932, both Category 5 and considered the most devastating in the nation's meteorological records.
The 1924 hurricane impacted the western region with estimated winds of 265 km/h, while the 1932 storm hit the central area with over 240 km/h, leaving thousands of casualties.
Unlike those historical events, Melissa is headed towards eastern Cuba, a region that has not faced a direct hit of such magnitude and is characterized by fragile infrastructure and already deteriorated basic services. Experts warn that the combination of extreme winds, storm surges, and torrential rains could cause catastrophic damage in provinces such as Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, Las Tunas, and Camagüey.
Comparing Historical Hurricanes
Historical data shows that Cuba's most destructive cyclones also include Hurricane Michelle (2001), which struck as a Category 4 with winds of 225 km/h; Hurricane Ivan (2004), which brushed the western region as a Category 5; and Hurricane Flora (1963), whose prolonged rainfall caused over 1,000 deaths, despite lower wind intensity.
Melissa, by contrast, presents all the hallmarks of an extreme hurricane: sustained winds over 250 km/h, central pressure below 910 hectopascals, and a slow movement increasing the risk of floods and landslides. Meteorologists have described its behavior as an "explosive intensification," potentially making it one of the most violent tropical systems in the Caribbean's recent history.
Should it directly impact Cuban territory with its current intensity, Melissa would be the most powerful hurricane to strike the island since reliable records began. Civil Defense authorities maintain a Cyclonic Alarm Phase in six eastern provinces, as rescue teams and electrical technicians prepare to act once the phenomenon passes.
The nation faces this new challenge amid a complex backdrop: widespread power outages, resource shortages, and a limited communication network that could hinder response efforts in a large-scale emergency. Forecasts suggest that Melissa's eye could approach the southeastern coast between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, with a destructive potential that could mark a turning point in Cuba's meteorological history.
Key Questions About Hurricane Melissa's Impact on Cuba
What is the significance of Hurricane Melissa's projected path?
Hurricane Melissa is expected to directly impact eastern Cuba, a region with weaker infrastructure and already strained basic services, making it particularly vulnerable to catastrophic damage from the storm.
How is the UNDP assisting Cuba ahead of Hurricane Melissa?
The UNDP is providing essential resources such as tarps, generators, chainsaws, toolkits, and mattresses to support early response efforts and mitigate damage from the impending cyclone.
How does Hurricane Melissa compare to past hurricanes in Cuba?
Melissa is comparable to the most powerful hurricanes in Cuba's history, such as the 1924 and 1932 Category 5 storms, and is considered one of the most intense systems to threaten the island in over a century.