The Federal Government on Sunday expressed deep sympathy and solidarity with Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti following the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kimiebi Ebienfa, FG said it received “with profound sorrow and deep sympathy the news of the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa on our sister nations, the Republic of Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.”
The ministry described the scenes of devastation as “truly heart-wrenching,” noting that reports from the affected nations showed widespread destruction, severe flooding, and tragic loss of lives and livelihoods.
“Nigeria stands in solidarity with the governments and the resilient peoples of Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica during this period of immense adversity and destruction,” the statement read.
The government also commended the efforts of emergency responders in the affected countries, praising their courage and commitment under dire conditions.
“We commend the swift and courageous efforts of the national emergency response teams in both countries, who are working tirelessly under extremely challenging conditions to provide relief and save lives,” it said.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to global solidarity and South-South cooperation, the Federal Government extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a full recovery.
“In the spirit of South-South cooperation and the enduring bonds of friendship and solidarity that Nigeria shares with the nations of the Caribbean, the Federal Government of Nigeria extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a full and speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement added.
FG also called on the global community to support recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Caribbean nations.
“The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria calls upon the international community and our partner organisations to rally in support of Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, and to provide all necessary assistance to help these nations in their urgent recovery and rebuilding efforts.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Government and people of the Republic of Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica,” the ministry concluded.
According to reports, Hurricane Melissa has left nearly 50 people dead across the Caribbean after unleashing catastrophic winds, flooding, and destruction on multiple islands. The storm—one of the most powerful on record—has devastated Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, while Bermuda remains under a hurricane warning.
It was reported that in Jamaica, at least 19 deaths have been confirmed, mainly in the western parishes of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth, with widespread power and communication outages complicating rescue efforts. Haiti has reported 30 deaths, over 1,000 homes flooded, and 16,000 people displaced, while Cuba is reeling from major infrastructure damage amid its economic crisis. Around 735,000 Cubans were evacuated as homes collapsed and power lines were torn down.
The United States and the United Kingdom mobilised aid, with US disaster response teams deployed across the region.
