Hurricane Melissa Ravages the Caribbean as Politics and Aid Collide
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At 3:05 a.m. on October 29, Hurricane Melissa touched down roughly 40 miles southeast of Santiago de Cuba, striking Cuba’s second-largest city as a Category 3 storm. After battering Jamaica and sweeping across eastern Cuba at winds up to 121 mph, the hurricane left an extensive trail of destruction before weakening offshore. Rising ocean temperatures have fueled stronger and more destructive tropical storms in the Atlantic in recent years.
A group of 17 families had to be rescued, a university, hospital, and many residences have suffered from severe flooding, sugarcane and banana plants have been destroyed, roads are blocked, and power outages have paralyzed communities across the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Guantánamo, and Holguín. Videos from Al Jazeera reveal the extent of the damage in Santiago and surrounding areas.
Cuba’s already fragile energy system, built on decades-old infrastructure, buckled under the pressure, plunging much of eastern Cuba into darkness. Telecommunications collapsed as ETECSA reported widespread damage to radio bases and loss of network power. Repair teams began mobilizing on October 30, but full restoration may take weeks.
Hurricane Melissa has exposed how Caribbean nations with vastly different political systems and ties to Washington cope with climate disasters, writes Catherine Osborn for Foreign Policy. Jamaica, Haiti, and Cuba each face the storm with unequal tools—Jamaica leveraging a $150 million catastrophe bond, Haiti struggling amid insecurity and weak state capacity, and Cuba confronting isolation from financial markets due to U.S. sanctions. The storm underscores how climate vulnerability now intersects with geopolitics, testing U.S. aid policy and revealing who can access recovery resources—and who cannot.
All this unfolds as the US tightens its migration and humanitarian policies toward the region. The refugee ceiling for 2025 has been reduced to 7,500—mostly white South Africans—which is down from 125,360 under former President Biden in 2024. The administration has also imposed a travel ban on Cubans, and canceled the humanitarian parole program (CHNV) that had offered a legal pathway for Cubans, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians. In FY2024, 25,000 refugees admitted by the US were from these same countries. Now, Cubans are being detained in inhumane facilities such as "Alligator Alcatraz” or deported to African nations..
As the human cost grows, political tensions have erupted over how to deliver aid. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered assistance “directly and via local partners who can most effectively deliver it to those in need,” while Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos F. de Cossío countered that Havana was still awaiting formal clarification from Washington. So far, the U.S. Department of State has sent a disaster response team and activated a search and rescue team to Jamaica.
Experts suggest that Secretary Rubio’s message signals a hope to bypass Cuba’s government altogether, an approach that may prompt Havana to reject the offer. While food, water, and basic supplies can be provided through local churches, as the Catholic Church has already offered, health care and electricity are controlled by the state.
Yet beyond politics, the need for solidarity is urgent. Disasters like Hurricane Melissa remind us that natural disasters affect communities indiscriminately, and the Caribbean region remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather events. CEDA encourages readers to share information on ongoing responses and community-led efforts at info@weareceda.org. Several organizations are mobilizing support on the ground:
Carib Biz has compiled this list of organizations accepting donations:
World Central Kitchen is working with Jamaican chefs and restaurants to prepare meals post-landfall.
Friends of Caritas Cuba teams are already on the ground, assessing needs and coordinating with local parishes to deliver food, clean water, and essential supplies to the Cuban people. Funds will be used to purchase water and non-perishable food items. You can make a donation to Friends of Caritas Cuba here.
Caribbean Agroecology Institute (CAI) is working directly with community partners in the eastern provinces of Cuba to get relief and recovery supplies to farming families in need. You can make a donation to CAI here.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting the Jamaica Red Cross in efforts to provide emergency shelter, food, clean water, and cash assistance to the 1.9 million people affected. You can donate to IFRC here.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting the Cuban Red Cross in providing emergency shelter, safe water, health and psychosocial support, while working to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Urgent help is needed to reach more families. You can donate to IFRC here.
We’ll share updates as new efforts emerge and invite readers to share information on additional responses or community initiatives at info@weareceda.org.
This week in Cuba news…
Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall in Cuba
Hurricane Melissa has caused catastrophic damage across the Caribbean, with the death toll only climbing and the hurricane being cited as the worst storm to hit Jamaica in 174 years. In Haiti, at least 40 people have been killed, and twenty others are missing. Jamaica has reported 19 fatalities, and the Dominican Republic has confirmed one death. These numbers are certain to rise as emergency services continue to assess the scale of the disaster. As of October 31, at least 49 people have died from the storm across Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
In Cuba, more than 735,000 people were evacuated on October 28, per a statement made by President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Approximately 864 non-essential U.S. military personnel and their family members were evacuated from the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base to Florida. Although no migrants are currently detained at Guantánamo, 15 wartime detainees remain at the prison.
The Caribbean is a region painfully familiar with natural disasters. Only six years ago, Hurricane Dorian, with wind speeds of 185 mph, made landfall. The difference now is that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been dismantled and can no longer provide its rapid emergency response technical assistance and support in the region. For context, in 2019, the U.S. government contributed approximately $33 million to Hurricane Dorian’s relief efforts for the Caribbean. In 2022 they also contributed $2 million in relief for Cuba after Hurricane Ian.
7 Countries Vote Against U.N. Resolution Condemning U.S. Embargo on Cuba
Earlier this month, the Trump administration launched a diplomatic campaign against a U.N. resolution that calls on the US to end its embargo on Cuba, arguing that Cuba’s government is supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine by sending thousands of Cubans to fight for Moscow. Cuba denies these allegations, only acknowledging the existence of Cubans participating in the conflict "on their own."
On October 29, the vote on the resolution took place with a historic number of countries opposing or abstaining. Argentina, Hungary, North Macedonia, Paraguay, and Ukraine joined the US and Israel in voting against the resolution, and 12 countries abstained. This marks a notable shift from the previous vote, in which only the US and Israel opposed the resolution and Moldova abstained.
The measure has been passed almost every year since 1992. During a speech on the floor of the U.N., U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz called the effort “political theater” and the U.S. Department of State released a statement on the vote echoing the same sentiment. Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla praised the passage of the resolution writing, “Victory of #Cuba. Victory of the peoples. Victory of truth against imperialist lies. We thank the countries whose votes have defended the truth of Cuba and have once again called for an end of the U.S. blockade against our people.”
Cuba Releases its Plan for the Economy
Cuba released its long-awaited economic roadmap, detailing 10 general objectives, 106 specific goals, and 342 actions, which were published on October 26 after the announcement on October 8. The plan is an attempt to guide the country into economic recovery. However, the timing of the announcement has generated criticism that the government is trying to avoid debate by releasing the plan days before Hurricane Melissa was set to hit Cuba.
Experts warn that the plan is largely symbolic: it lacks clear implementation mechanisms, timelines, and rules for private sector participation, leaving its practical impact uncertain. Proposed measures, such as partial dollarization, self-financing schemes, banking reform and mandatory electronic invoicing could theoretically offer opportunities; however, structural problems, including limited infrastructure, poor connectivity, and regulatory opacity, make their success doubtful.
AUGE, a Havana-based consulting firm, released a full analysis of the roadmap and emphasized that while the plan signals a “transformative moment,” it fails to address the deep-rooted distortions crippling Cuba’s economy. They surmise that private businesses may find limited openings in exports or partnerships, but persistent uncertainties and constraints suggest the economy remains trapped in stagnation.
Eight economists who spoke to the Spanish news agency EFE echoed this assessment, instead, proposing sweeping reforms from dismantling GAESA, the economic branch of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, to liberalizing agriculture and including the Cuban diaspora in policy making. Their consensus is stark: without fundamental, systemic reform, Cuba faces the real risk of economic collapse.
Cuban Deported to Eswatini Launches Hunger Strike Over Detention
Roberto Mosquera del Peral, a Cuban national deported from the US to Eswatini, began a hunger strike on October 15 after nearly three months in detention without access to legal counsel. Mosquera was one of five people deported by the Trump administration to the African nation in July.
Eswatini authorities have described his hunger strike as “fasting and praying because he was missing his family,” calling it a “religious practice” with which the government would not interfere. Mosquera’s lawyer denied these claims ,stating, “It is not a religious practice. It’s an act of desperation and protest.”
Mosquera is among 14 third-country nationals deported from the US who remain imprisoned at the Matsapha Correctional Complex in Eswatini, which Human Rights Watch has described as having “harsh conditions.” One Jamaican man has already been repatriated, and Eswatini officials say two more are expected to be repatriated soon, though their identities have not been confirmed.
U.S. officials maintain that all those deported were convicted criminals, while their lawyers argue they have already served their sentences and are being unlawfully detained.
Cuba Declines Venezuela’s Request for Military Support Amid U.S. Escalation
According to Caracas Consulting, which cited sources close to the Venezuelan government, President Nicolás Maduro sought military and logistical support from Cuba during an October 12 meeting amid rising tensions in the region. Cuban advisors reportedly urged Maduro to “resist the U.S. escalation” and rely on the few allies he still has worldwide. However, Cuba ultimately declined to offer military support, citing the security risks involved.
The report also claims that Maduro and his inner circle were shocked by Havana’s refusal. They added that Cuban advisors were also unenthusiastic about the idea of Maduro seeking refuge on the island should his government collapse, describing his potential presence as “inconvenient” for Cuba. Instead, Cuban advisors reportedly encouraged Maduro and his team to focus on social media messaging to highlight their opposition to U.S. military actions.
The decision aligns with Cuba’s previously stated position. In September, Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said Cuba would limit its involvement in Venezuela to political support. Following a U.S. strike against a vessel in the Pacific on October 29, the death toll has risen to at least 61 people.
Chinese Drug Trafficker Arrested in Cuba and Handed Over to the US
Zhi Dong Zhang, also known by the alias “Brother Wang,” has been captured and handed over to U.S. authorities on October 23 following an international manhunt. Zhang was initially arrested in Mexico City in October 2024 at the request of U.S. prosecutors and placed under house arrest, from which he reportedly escaped in July 2025 through a hole in the wall.
After fleeing Mexico, Zhang traveled with a false passport and resurfaced in Cuba, where he was arrested on July 31, 2025, along with two others. His detention in Cuba was only announced on October 22 by Mexican authorities. Mexico has now confirmed his extradition to the US.
Zhang is alleged to lead a major criminal network spanning China, the Americas, and Europe. He was indicted in Atlanta in 2022 on charges of trafficking more than 1,000 kg of cocaine and 1,800 kg of fentanyl as well as laundering more than $150 million through a criminal organization with links to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Migrant Caravan Dissolved by Mexico’s National Migration Institute
After a caravan of more than 1,000 migrants, mostly Cubans, departed from Tapachula on October 1 en route to Mexico City, migrants faced numerous challenges, including illness, harsh weather, and repeated dispersals. As the group dwindled, some migrants voluntarily returned to Tapachula after accepting an offer from the National Migration Institute (INM) to process humanitarian visas, while others agreed to be transported to Veracruz.
On October 18, INM authorities dissolved the remaining group of roughly 300 migrants in Oaxaca. The migrants ended their journey after accepting the government’s offer to continue to Mexico City by bus. They were granted humanitarian visas and several successfully reached the capital. One migrant stated, “We’re already here in Mexico City…Now we’re looking for a place to rent. And we’re going to look for a place to work. We achieved our goal.” The INM reported that approximately 14,000 Cubans remain in Tapachula.
Migrants Deported from Guantánamo Days Before Federal Hearing
On October 16 and 17, the 18 migrants held at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base were deported to El Salvador and Guatemala, emptying the detention site just days before Hurricane Melissa was expected to reach Cuba. The migrants, whose nationalities remain unknown, had only been at the base for four days.
According to The New York Times, some were housed in a dormitory-style facility near the airstrip, while others considered higher-risk were held in Camp 6. Since the operation began in February, roughly 710 migrants have been detained at Guantánamo.
The deportations came days before a federal court hearing in Luna Gutierrez v. Noem, an ACLU-led case challenging the legality of offshore migrant detention. At the October 23 hearing, a Justice Department lawyer defended the Trump administration’s authority to detain migrants at any U.S. military base worldwide. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan is weighing whether to grant class-action status, as the government argues the practice aligns with past policy while the ACLU maintains that Congress never authorized extraterritorial detention of migrants.
US Deports Cubans Across the Border to Mexico in Buses
The US has begun deporting Cuban nationals to Mexico—a shift that has left hundreds in legal and humanitarian limbo. According to the Miami Herald, the Trump administration has been busing Cubans with criminal records across the southern border after Havana refused to accept them. Cuba currently limits deportations to one flight per month, and has long declined to take back nationals convicted of certain crimes.
A report by El País describes the human toll of this new policy, portraying Cubans in Mexico as facing an “uncertain and guarantee-less” future, many of whom are without legal documentation or access to work. Our Executive Director, María José Espinosa warned that “these practices leave many people in a legal limbo… and expose them to extortion, violence, and trafficking, especially in southern Mexico, where the risks for migrants are high.”
Havana Artists Defy Restrictions and Organize Mass Honoring Celia Cruz
On October 21, hundreds gathered in Havana to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Celia Cruz’s birth at a Mass organized by a group of artists who admire the late singer. Among those attending were singer and producer Alain Pérez, performers Haila María Mompié and Yomil. Mike Hammer, the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba, was also present.
The celebration came just days after Cuban authorities canceled a theater performance at the Cuban Art Factory that was intended to honor Cruz, sparking accusations of government censorship. In response, the venue posted a photo on Facebook showing an empty chair on stage and unveiled a commemorative star.
Although tributes to Cruz were held around the world, Cuba itself has long avoided officially recognizing her legacy. Exiled from the island in 1960, Cruz became a vocal anti-Castro activist and an enduring symbol of opposition to the Cuban Revolution. She passed away in 2003.
Recommended Reading, Viewing, Events:
Read | Reuters: Cubans keep salsa tradition alive with neighborhood lessons
Read | The Hill: From revolutionaries to mercenaries: Cubans fight for Russia in Ukraine
Read | The Nation: Trump’s Caribbean Killing Spree
Read | The Washington Post: Travel Ban Separates Cuban Families, Divides Community Loyal to Trump
Watch | Al Jazeera: How US sanctions cripple Cuba's healthcare | People & Power Documentary
Go | Articulo 20™ presents Carlos Quintana – In Practice, a three-day solo exhibition featuring a selection of works by the acclaimed contemporary Cuban artist Carlos Quintana as well as a live, working studio space with the artist himself.
When: December 11th – 13th
Where: Caelum Gallery (508 W. 26th Street Suite 315, New York, New York)
Opening Reception: December 11th from 6:00PM – 8:00PM.
Learn more about the event and RSVP here
