stories
Urgent: Hurricane Melissa has devastated farming communities in southern Haiti
october 31, 2025 | Ayiti Demen
We are receiving regular updates on the consequences of the flooding that occurred in southern Haiti following the passage of Hurricane Melissa (October 21–28, 2025—and it is still raining in some areas).
More than 30 people have lost their lives, 20 are missing, and the extent of the damage is still being assessed. Haiti’s Civil Protection reports that 2,399 families—representing 15,861 people—are currently in shelters, and 1,046 homes have been flooded. In Jérémie, Camperrin, Saint-Louis du Sud, Barradères, Cavaillon, Fonds-des-Nègres, and Nippes, losses are still being evaluated.
Among approximately 5,000 families within the smallholder farmers’ network supported by FOKAL, reports indicate that:
- Farmers’ homes have been devastated
- Plantations have been destroyed; crops and harvests lost
- Livestock have drowned
- Fruit trees have been uprooted
Throughout history, the Haitian peasantry has had to survive in very precarious conditions. While their contribution to the GDP is still over 20%, investment in the sector remains at an extremely low level, and practically no credit is provided to agriculture. Programs from international donors have proved to have an insignificant impact. Their vulnerability makes it difficult to resist the disasters caused by hurricanes and earthquakes.
How Ayiti Demen and FOKAL Can Help
Fondation Connaissance et Liberté (FOKAL) is one of Haiti’s leading civil‑society institutions, with more than 30 years of experience advancing sustainable development, education, food security, human rights, women’s rights, and community empowerment. FOKAL works with over 40 local smallholder farmers’ organizations across Haiti, providing financial support, training, and assistance for food production, water management, loan and savings associations, and environmental protection. Since 2007, Ayiti Demen has supported FOKAL’s programs in Haiti and was a major partner following the 2021 earthquake. Your support will go directly to FOKAL, which will provide resources for the smallholder farmers.
Our approach, based on proximity and long-term commitment, proves to bring measurable results. That is what makes FOKAL’s support beneficial throughout the years, as it sustains livelihoods and helps maintain a reasonable level of revenue for families and their children.
FOKAL has deep experience dealing with situations such as this one. We ask each smallholder farmer organization to supply a list of families in need, and FOKAL provides cash transfers that are documented for accountability. That is what is most needed in the first phase. Depending on funds received, we can then rapidly provide support to resume production and environmental protection.
We accept donations and account for all funds received.
Thank you for your generosity.
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