Switzerland extends support to Caribbean in wake of Hurricane Melissa

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Hurricane Melissa is considered one of the most violent tropical storms the Atlantic has ever seen. Beyond the severe flooding and major damage to infrastructure caused, thousands of families have been displaced and access to clean water, electricity and basic healthcare is still greatly disrupted.

In this context, Switzerland's support will help to restore essential services and strengthen humanitarian logistics and local coordination.

Support in the water sector

Six specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) and one specialist from the Swiss Red Cross will leave Switzerland for Cuba this weekend. They will be assisted by two specialists who are already in Latin America. As water specialists, they will lend support to the Cuban Red Cross. Water treatment equipment will also be delivered during this operation.

In Jamaica, Switzerland will contribute financially to the emergency appeal launched by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

In Haiti, thousands of people found refuge in shelters built with Swiss support. The warning systems set up in recent years with the local authorities worked well. A special fund of CHF 300,000 has been activated through a social protection programme run by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to enable cash transfers to particularly vulnerable people. Given the needs, Switzerland will bolster the aid mechanism with additional funding.