One week following the impact of Hurricane Melissa on the Caribbean, humanitarian aid workers are just starting to evaluate the scale of the destruction. Natural disasters of this severity pose entirely new challenges for aid organizations. Upon Olle Kaidro's arrival at Kingston, Jamaica, on Monday evening, Hurricane Melissa had recently passed. "The city itself is calm," stated Kaidro, a logistics expert from Tallinn, in an interview with SWI swissinfo.ch. "However, the western region of the island has suffered significant damage. Roads have collapsed, and beaches are inundated." He is present to expedite the distribution of relief supplies across a ravaged landscape. Last week, Melissa traversed the Caribbean, devastating cities and leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity. It was the most severe hurricane ever documented in Jamaica, resulting in at least 67 fatalities. In his role as the supply chain coordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Kaidro is focused on delivering shelter, hygiene kits, and medical supplies through a relief network that has been affected by the storm. Already responding to forecasts "Flexibility is essential," he stresses. "When airports are closed, we utilize smaller vehicles and maritime routes. Once Kingston Airport reopened, we dispatched supplies via both charter flights and sea. The primary goal is to ensure the continuous flow of aid, regardless of the circumstances." This level of adaptability illustrates the Red Cross's updated strategy of reacting to forecasts instead of waiting for the aftermath of disasters. Across the Caribbean, supplies and fuel are being stockpiled in locations such as Panama, prepared for swift deployment. The aim is to stay ahead during periods when storms are becoming increasingly rapid and destructive. "We have already dispatched 64 tons of relief supplies from Panama," Kaidro clarifies. "We had supplies readily available, and four additional charter flights along with five shipping containers are currently on their way." Minimal fatalities in Cuba In the last ten years, experiences with global crises such as Covid-19 have enhanced the speed and adaptability of supply chains. Aid organizations are now increasingly depending on logistics that are more flexible and responsive