The United States has announced it is prepared to provide immediate humanitarian aid to Cuba following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest storms to hit the Caribbean in recent decades.
Hurricane’s Impact
Hurricane Melissa, which struck the Caribbean earlier this week as a Category 5 storm with winds of up to 185 mph (298 km/h), left a trail of destruction across Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and eastern Cuba. In Cuba, the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo were among the hardest hit, with widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and crops. The UN has described Melissa as one of the three most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in Cuba, displacing thousands and leaving millions without reliable access to electricity and clean water.
US Humanitarian Response
On 30 October 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington had issued a Declaration of Humanitarian Assistance for Cuba, mirroring similar measures for other affected Caribbean nations. He stated that the US is prepared to provide aid directly and through local partners to ensure rapid delivery of food, medicine, and emergency supplies.
Rubio emphasized that US law allows exemptions for humanitarian goods despite broader sanctions, enabling private donations and disaster relief to flow to the island. “The United States stands with the Cuban people as they recover from this devastating storm,” he said.
Coordination with Havana
Cuban authorities confirmed they are in direct contact with Washington to coordinate the logistics of aid delivery. While political relations between the two countries remain strained, both sides acknowledged the urgency of humanitarian cooperation in the wake of the disaster.
Regional and International Efforts
The US announcement comes as international relief operations intensify across the Caribbean. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than three million people in Cuba were affected by the storm, with emergency shelters at capacity. Aid agencies are working alongside local governments to restore essential services and provide relief to displaced families.
Outlook
While Hurricane Melissa has weakened to a Category 2 storm as it moves toward Bermuda, recovery in Cuba and neighboring countries is expected to take months. The US offer of humanitarian assistance marks a rare moment of cooperation between Washington and Havana, underscoring the scale of the disaster and the need for international solidarity.
Sources: Reuters; The Straits Times; NBC News; UN OCHA; Yahoo/AP Yahoo The Star The Straits Times UN News.
