Tropical Storm Melissa Threatens Jamaica and Hispaniola with Flooding
Tropical Storm Melissa is bringing the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding to jamaica and the island of Hispaniola, home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as it moves across the Caribbean Sea.the storm formed as the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season and poses a particular threat to Haiti, already grappling with a cholera outbreak, widespread poverty, and political instability.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has allocated $4 million to assist over 10,000 vulnerable people in Haiti ahead of the storm. This funding will support evacuations, provide cash transfers, and deliver emergency shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene kits. The concern is heightened by extensive erosion from past storms and limited preparation capabilities due to HaitiS ongoing challenges.
Flooding is a major concern in haiti, which recently reported 139 suspected cholera cases and five deaths in a single week, following nearly three months with no reported cases. The bacterial disease spreads through contaminated water, and only 11% of health facilities with inpatient capacity in the capital are fully operational.
Melissa is the frist named storm to form in the Caribbean this year. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season,forecasting 13 to 18 named storms,with five to nine becoming hurricanes-including two to five major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph (178 kph) or greater. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.