Haiti Mourns Victims of Devastating Hurricane Melissa with 3-Day Mourning Period

Hurricane Melissa has killed at least 58 people across the Caribbean, prompting Haiti to declare three days of national mourning and Jamaica to organize charity reggae concerts for reconstruction efforts. The storm hit multiple island nations with devastating floods and landslides.

Haiti's government announced the mourning period starting Sunday after the hurricane claimed at least 30 lives through flooding and landslides. Civil protection authorities also declared a three-month state of emergency across several regions.

The hurricane didn't spare other Caribbean nations. Jamaica bore the brunt of Melissa's full force, with official reports confirming at least 28 deaths. The Bahamas and Cuba also suffered significant damage as the storm swept through the region.

Jamaica's response shows how music can help rebuild communities. The country's Culture Ministry is organizing charity reggae concerts under the theme "Love Jamaica" to raise reconstruction funds. The series kicks off November 14 in Kingston, then moves to London, New York, Toronto, and South Florida.

Culture Minister Olivia Grange explained the approach on Instagram: "As we have done many times before, we turn to our music, our reggae music, which has proven to be a healing balm and antidote in times of trouble and distress, not only for Jamaicans, but for the world."

The full concert lineup hasn't been announced yet, but the initiative highlights reggae's role as both cultural export and disaster relief tool. Jamaica has used this strategy before, tapping into reggae's global appeal to generate international support during crises.

These back-to-back disasters underscore the Caribbean's vulnerability to extreme weather. Small island nations like Haiti and Jamaica face particular challenges recovering from major storms due to limited resources and infrastructure constraints. The three-month emergency declaration in Haiti suggests officials expect a long recovery process ahead.