(2025) Haiti: Tropical Storm Melissa | Grand-Sud Situation Report | 26 October 2025

1 Haiti: Tropical Storm Melissa | Grand-Sud Situation Report | 26 October 2025 The thirteenth tropical storm of the season, named Melissa, is currently moving through the Caribbean Sea and expected to intensify rapidly into a major hurricane by Sunday, posing serious flood risks. Haitian authorities have placed the Sud and Grand-Anse departments under red alert, while Nippes, South-East, and West departments remain on amber alert. These mostly rural areas, whose populations depend primarily on agriculture, are already affected: persistent rains, strong winds, and adverse sea conditions have damaged crops and the environment, disrupted routes, increasing the risk of food insecurity. The table below presents early findings from field observations and information gathered from key informants for the period 21–25 October 2025. Department Observed phenomena Agricultural impacts Nippes Moderate intermittent rains; localized landslides (Anse à Veau, locality of Fleury, mainly at Morne Pio). Swollen rivers. Adverse sea conditions at Miragoâne. § Bean harvests from the summer campaign in humid mountain zones (Plaisance and Baradères) compromised (premature sprouting, rotting). § Flood risk in key areas of agricultural production. § No livestock losses reported at this stage. Sud Moderate intermittent rains and winds. Swollen rivers. Adverse sea conditions reported in Aquin, Cavaillon, and Côteaux, calmer conditions elsewhere. § Bean harvests from the summer campaign in humid mountain zones (Camp-Perrin, Maniche and Les Anglais) compromised (premature sprouting, rotting). § Avocado trees uprooted. § Interruption of, and delays, in the winter campaign preparation. § No livestock losses reported at this stage. § Flooded roads, limited field access. Sud-Est Persistent light to moderate rains and winds. Adverse sea conditions. § 15 ha of maize confirmed destroyed (Mapou, Belle-Anse). § Losses in pigeon pea and bean at the flowering stage. § Avocado trees uprooted in mountainous areas (Corail Lamothe). § Fishing infrastructure damaged in Jacmel. § Livestock losses reported (under assessment). Grand- Anse Light to moderate rains, heavy at Beaumont. Sustained winds. Adverse sea conditions at Les Irois, Anse d’Hainault, and Dame- Marie. § No major agricultural losses reported at this stage. § Localized flooding at Anse d’Hainault. Map of Haiti's departments currently placed under red and amber alert by the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC), 26th of October 2025. Ouest Sud-Est Sud . Red alert Amber alert Cyclone warning Rain warning Grand-Anse Sud Nippes Ouest Sud-Est 2 Across at-risk areas, current weather conditions already undermine ongoing agricultural activities linked to the summer campaign, disrupting preparations for the upcoming winter campaign, and threatening rural households’ incomes and food security. Maritime activities, such as fishing along the southern coast, are fully suspended due to hazardous sea conditions. According to the October 2025 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, the four southern departments threatened by the hurricane were already facing a Crisis level of food insecurity (Phase 3), with some areas at risk of slipping into Emergency (Phase 4). Over 1.4 million people in these departments are in IPC Phase 3, including more than 350 000 in Emergency (Phase 4). Road and market disruptions could rapidly raise staple food prices, restrict movement, and limit farmers’ access to fields. As these areas are largely home to agriculture-dependent households, the hurricane poses a high risk of livelihood collapse unless swift action is taken to restore productivity. Preliminary on-the-ground analyses already indicate the need to implement an emergency response aimed at protecting and restoring heavily compromised livelihoods and production. This response will focus on two axes: • Rehabilitation of key rural infrastructure, notably clearing field tracks and repairing destroyed or damaged structures (under assessment); • Distribution of agricultural inputs and vouchers for seeds and fishing equipment, to enable the immediate resumption of productive activities after the tropical storm’s passage. Currently, FAO, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), is assessing contingency stocks available in the Grand-Sud and the possibility of repurposing already planned distributions to respond to the emergency. FAO has pre-positioned 1 000 emergency food production kits in Port-au-Prince and is assessing their mobilization to the Grand-Sud. FAO, with MARNDR, continues to monitor the evolving impact on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and the environment, with rapid assessments underway to quantify the extent of the damage to the sector. A comprehensive field analysis, including collecting quantitative data through household surveys, is essential to guide subsequent interventions. Sources: § Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC), October 2025. § Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), October 2025. § Disaggregated estimates of the Haitian population in 2024, Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics. § Information from direct exchanges with key informants and representatives of local communities. FAO Representation in Haiti FAO-HT@fao.org Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | © FAO, 2025 Plantain plantation in Haiti’s Sud Department, damaged by the severe winds caused by tropical storm Melissa. Coastline of Haiti’s Sud Department, flooded and strewn with debris following the passage of tropical storm Melissa. Fishing activities are suspended.