In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the streets of Petit-Goâve were drowned in silence—broken only by rushing water and the cries of families searching for loved ones. Rivers overflowed, homes vanished under mudslides, and entire neighborhoods were swept away. In Haiti’s Grand Sud and West departments, the devastation was overwhelming. Families lost everything. Clean water, shelter, and healthcare disappeared overnight.
Hurricane Melissa has left a devastating mark on Haiti, claiming 43 lives, injuring 21 people, and leaving 13 missing. More than 11,900 homes were flooded or damaged, and around 16,000 people were forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters, with 1,749 still displaced across 10 sites. Entire communities have been uprooted, and access to clean water, sanitation, and basic services has been severely disrupted.
In moments like these, the need for an immediate healthcare response is critical, not only to treat injuries and trauma, but to contain deadly outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Doctors of the World USA is mobilizing to create safe spaces for care, delivering emergency medical aid, psychological support, and protection services to ensure dignity and health endure in the face of disaster.
“Our health staff are fully mobilized in the main reception center where the most affected people have found refuge,” says Frédérique Chevalier, General Coordinator of Doctors of the World in Haiti, based in Petit-Goâve. “At the same time, our psychologists and facilitators are supporting adults and children, providing essential psychological assistance.”
Our international network has been present in Haiti since 1995, working alongside communities to strengthen access to healthcare, promote sexual and reproductive health, and combat gender-based violence. Our teams have responded to earthquakes, cholera outbreaks, political instability, and now, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded. Even before the storm hit, Haiti was already in what UN Secretary-General António Guterres called a “perfect storm of suffering”—a nation gripped by gang violence, political instability, and economic collapse. With six million people in need of humanitarian assistance and basic services collapsing, Hurricane Melissa has deepened an already dire emergency.
Our emergency response is focused on four critical areas:
- Access to healthcare and disease prevention: Mobile health teams are providing free medical consultations in flood-affected areas. We’re distributing water filters and purification tablets, and leading hygiene awareness sessions to prevent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne illnesses.
- Mental health support for adults and children: Our psychologists and trained facilitators are offering trauma-informed care, including consultations, support groups, and artistic workshops to help children process grief and fear.
- Protection against gender-based violence: Medical care for survivors is integrated into mobile clinics, alongside community workshops on positive masculinity and awareness sessions to strengthen protection for women and girls.
- Economic recovery for vulnerable households: Direct financial assistance is being provided to help families rebuild their livelihoods and regain autonomy.
Doctors of the World remains fully mobilized to protect the most vulnerable and support long-term recovery. Because in every emergency, care must be safe, dignified, and accessible.