Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
MM
Jerémie (Agenzia Fides) – “Hurricane Melissa is moving away from our coasts, leaving behind a trail of death, suffering, and devastation, especially in Jamaica and Cuba. In the coming days, weather conditions here should return to ‘normal.’ In Haiti, there are several dead and wounded, and the damage to fragile infrastructure and agriculture is enormous. At the moment, it is not even possible to make a rough assessment; we will see as the days go by.” This is what Father Massimo Miraglio, a Camillian missionary and parish priest of the village of Pourcine-Pic Makaya, told Fides. Unfortunately, he has not yet been able to reach the village (see Fides, 28/10/2025).
According to estimates released by the Haitian government, the number of victims of the hurricane has risen to 43, with 13 people missing. Rescue teams are still trying to reach communities in the southwestern region of the country, where landslides and flooding have devastated more than 30 towns. At least 25 deaths have been reported in the coastal town of Petit-Goâve, one of the hardest-hit communities. The Category 5 storm, one of the most powerful ever recorded in the Atlantic, has flooded nearly 12,000 homes and destroyed nearly 200, after its outer bands battered Haiti last week. Numerous roads remain impassable, and more than 1,700 people are still in temporary shelters.
“In Jeremie, the situation went much better than expected,” Father Massimo continued, “but I didn’t receive the first images from the parish of Pourcine-Pic Makaya until Friday, October 31. Undoubtedly, the situation in the mountains is much more difficult: for now, the roads are impassable.
In addition to one death, the damage to crops is enormous; many of the modest homes are damaged, and numerous farm animals have died. The parish house has survived but is flooded, although it was inundated, and the small kitchen was destroyed by a tree. Banana and coffee plantations were also destroyed, as well as several trees. I am organizing to go up as soon as it is possible to reopen the roads.”
“Thank God there have been no major human losses,” the missionary concluded, “but it is urgent and important to get things moving again: reopen the school, clean the well, and allow what remains to regenerate. Life is stronger!” (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 5/11/2025)
