分类： world

Hurricane Melissa intensified as it moved toward Bermuda on Thursday, leaving a path of devastation across the northern Caribbean. Local authorities reported nearly 30 fatalities, with significant damage to infrastructure and communities. The storm, now a Category 1 hurricane, was located 526 kilometers southwest of Bermuda, where hurricane-like conditions were anticipated by evening. Melissa’s maximum sustained winds reached 169 km/h, but residents remained calm as the storm was expected to pass relatively wide of the island. Authorities announced road closures and the suspension of schools and ferries as a precautionary measure. In the Bahamas, storm warnings were lifted, but officials have yet to declare the area fully safe. Hundreds of evacuees may return home by Saturday, pending safety assessments. Although Haiti was not directly hit, heavy rains caused a river to overflow, resulting in at least 25 deaths in Petit-Goave. The collapse of a riverbank also destroyed part of a national highway, further isolating communities. Jamaica, directly struck by Melissa as a Category 5 hurricane, reported at least four deaths in the southwestern region. The storm’s winds far exceeded the threshold for the highest hurricane category, making it the third strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Caribbean. Satellite images revealed widespread destruction in Jamaica, with forests and homes flattened. Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed concern for affected citizens during a helicopter tour of the hardest-hit areas. Over 70% of Jamaica’s electricity customers remained without power, and many schools lacked essential services. Rescue operations were underway, with U.S. search and rescue teams en route to assist. Cuba, which experienced Melissa as a Category 3 storm, reported significant infrastructure and crop damage but no fatalities. The storm isolated 241 communities, affecting up to 140,000 residents. Authorities evacuated 735,000 people to shelters and relocated tourists to inland hotels. The U.S. pledged immediate humanitarian aid to Cuba, despite longstanding tensions between the two nations.

Since 2020, nearly 15,000 Haitians have arrived in Suriname, yet only 108 have applied for work permits by the end of last year, according to data from Suriname’s Immigration Service and Labor Directorate. Over 4,000 Haitians have since left the country, leaving approximately 10,000 undocumented workers or those who crossed borders unnoticed to continue their journey. The reasons for this significant influx remain unclear, and the exact number of Haitians registered with the Foreigners Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police is unknown. Initial promises to release this data were abruptly halted, and requests for information from Minister Harish Monorath were unsuccessful. Former Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin stated in May that there are currently no flights from Haiti and the situation is not alarming, though he acknowledged pressure to admit Haitians. Charter flights operated by Saya Tours & Travel via Fly Allways were suspended due to rumors of human trafficking. Ramdin emphasized that Suriname’s open migration policy made it a transit point, but measures like visa requirements have since been implemented to mitigate the issue. Suriname has maintained its top ranking in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report for 2024 and 2025, and Ramdin stressed the importance of maintaining this status. Haitians reportedly pay between $2,700 to $4,000 per person for travel to Suriname, a significant sum in Haiti. Saya Tours denied allegations of profiteering, claiming the flights were primarily to assist the Haitian community. The Haitian consulate in Paramaribo was dismantled in August 2024 over suspected involvement in human trafficking, though staff denied any wrongdoing. Fly Allways director Amichand Jhauw declined to disclose charter flight costs, but sources estimate profits of $116,000 per flight. Saya refuted these claims, citing high administrative costs and political sponsorship as factors in obtaining flight permissions. Despite the suspension of special charters, 857 Haitians entered Suriname in 2025, raising questions about migration enforcement.