Hurricane Melissa's Damage in Petit-Goâve: Défenseurs Plus Denounces the 'Guilty Inaction' of the Haitian State

The Défenseurs Plus Collective highlights the interim government's responsibility for the heavy human and material losses caused by Hurricane Melissa. In a note signed by Ulrick Tintin, the collective's Head of Legal Affairs, and published on October 30, 2025, the human rights organization accuses the State of having failed in its duty of prevention and protection, transforming a natural disaster into a national tragedy. The passage of Hurricane Melissa over Haiti caused at least 30 deaths, several disappearances, and approximately 7,000 displaced persons across the country, according to initial estimates. These figures reflect, according to the Défenseurs Plus Collective, the scale of a tragedy that was 'largely avoidable' had the authorities acted in time. The organization emphasizes that other nations affected by the storm, such as Cuba and Jamaica, managed to limit human losses thanks to effective alert and evacuation systems. In Haiti, it laments, 'the inaction of the interim government' exacerbated the consequences of the disaster. Petit-Goâve is cited as an emblematic example of this negligence. More than fifteen people, including children, perished there after the devastating flood of the La Digue river. Despite repeated calls from residents demanding the preventive dredging of the riverbed, the authorities remained inactive. The collective believes that this omission constitutes 'a clear violation of the State's obligation to protect the life and security of the population,' in accordance with Article 19 of the 1987 Constitution. Human rights defenders recall that this catastrophe plunged thousands of families into extreme precariousness, particularly in the Southern, Southeastern, and Grand'Anse departments. Several victims lost not only their loved ones but also their homes, crops, identity papers, and livelihoods. Faced with this dramatic situation, the Défenseurs Plus Collective calls on the government to fully assume its constitutional responsibilities. It specifically recommends: The immediate launch of rescue and search operations to find the missing; The rapid distribution of emergency humanitarian aid, including food, drinking water, temporary shelters, and medical care; The development of a transparent reconstruction and support plan for those affected; The strengthening of natural disaster prevention and management mechanisms, with participatory monitoring by civil society; The opening of a judicial and administrative inquiry to identify and sanction those responsible for the non-execution of dredging work in Petit-Goâve. In conclusion, the Défenseurs Plus Collective expresses its solidarity with the bereaved families and affected populations across the country. The organization reaffirms its commitment to defending the right to life, security, and dignity of every Haitian citizen, while calling on the authorities to learn from this tragedy to prevent new disasters in the future. The editorial team