PETIT-GOÂVE, Haiti (AP) – The peaceful night in Petit-Goâve was shattered when the La Digue River overflowed after midnight, leading to catastrophic flooding as the outer bands of Hurricane Melissa struck southern Haiti in late October. By the time the residents realized the severity of the situation, it was too late. The relentless waters swept away children, vehicles, and homes, causing immense destruction.
The Category 5 hurricane, noted as one of the strongest Atlantic storms in recorded history, resulted in the death of at least 43 individuals in Haiti, with more than a dozen still reported missing. Most of the casualties were concentrated in Petit-Goâve, where the community held a mourning ceremony, highlighting the grief and loss amongst the residents.
Fanile Estinval, dressed in white to honor her two sons who perished in the disaster, lamented, "Where is my strength?!" as she opened her arms to the crowd. Eighteen caskets, decorated with bright yellow and orange flowers, were presented in a public plaza as the community gathered to pay their respects. Tragically, at least ten of the deceased were children.
Anguish permeated the atmosphere, accompanied by expressions of guilt among the survivors. There was also a palpable frustration, prompting a protest along a major highway to demand expedited assistance from the government. Residents voiced that better planning and infrastructure could have potentially prevented the loss of life.
The impact of Hurricane Melissa extended beyond immediate casualties. In Jamaica, the storm claimed at least 45 lives, and officials warned that the repercussions in Haiti would linger for months. Hundreds of families found themselves homeless and jobless, facing food scarcity due to the destruction of what was once a thriving agricultural community in Petit-Goâve. Wanja Kaaria, the U.N.'s World Food Program director for Haiti, described the devastation as severe, stating that 90% of the farmlands were washed away.
Efforts to alleviate the suffering began with the WFP distributing food to over 40,000 individuals in Petit-Goâve, with plans to initiate cash transfers to those affected. However, concerns were raised about the agency's inability to preposition emergency supplies ahead of the hurricane season due to persistent funding shortages. The agency estimated that approximately 1.25 million people across Haiti were affected by the storm, with 360,000 needing urgent food assistance.
In the wake of the storm, health officials expressed worries about potential increases in fatalities from cholera, with more than 30 suspected cases and six deaths reported in Petit-Goâve alone. UNICEF's Boris Matous highlighted ongoing efforts to rehabilitate and chlorinate water sources, install hand-washing stations, and set up mobile clinics, noting the challenges posed by the region's accessibility.
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa came amid a backdrop of deepening poverty and political instability in Haiti, compounded by rising hunger, increasing cholera cases, and escalating gang violence. Matous remarked, “This hurricane, this catastrophe, is coming on top of multiple other crises.”
Hurricane Melissa inflicted damage on over 240 homes in Petit-Goâve, with hundreds more suffering flooding. Currently, about 100 families remain in temporary shelters, including a hotel and a private residence opened by a generous owner. Reports surfaced of two young children in shelters without the company of their parents, highlighting the dire situation.
As the community grappled with its losses, Estinval's pain resonated deeply. “A mother usually doesn’t bury her children. When I die, who is going to bury me?” she lamented, showcasing the profound grief and despair both she and many others in Petit-Goâve are facing.
