The United States announced on Wednesday that it has deployed disaster relief teams to several Caribbean nations severely affected by Hurricane Melissa, which has caused widespread destruction across the region.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the move in a statement on X, saying the United States was working closely with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and The Bahamas as they deal with the hurricane’s aftermath.
“The United States is in close contact with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic and The Bahamas as they confront the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa,” Rubio wrote. “We have rescue and response teams heading to affected areas along with critical lifesaving supplies,” he added.
Rubio, a Cuban-American known for his hard stance against Havana’s communist government, made no mention of any outreach to Cuba in his statement.
A senior State Department official disclosed that “dozens” of US personnel are being deployed to assist with rescue operations and damage assessments. These include teams from Los Angeles, Fairfax County, Virginia, and specialists from a regional disaster hub in Costa Rica.
The deployment marks a rare instance of targeted US assistance abroad since President Donald Trump’s administration shut down most of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) operations, drastically reducing international aid programs.
Both Rubio and Trump have criticized long-term foreign aid programs but have pledged to maintain short-term, life-saving assistance in times of crisis.
Another official acknowledged that the ongoing US government shutdown has complicated logistics for the relief operation but emphasized that emergency workers received immediate authorization to proceed with the mission.
What You Should Know
Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to hit the Caribbean in recent history, has left a trail of devastation across multiple islands, with thousands displaced and infrastructure severely damaged.
The United States’ rapid deployment of emergency teams signals a renewed focus on humanitarian response despite ongoing political and budgetary challenges in Washington.
