Melissa caused at least 59 deaths and massive destruction across the Caribbean this week, notably in Jamaica, where it roared ashore as a top-strength Category 5 hurricane before striking eastern Cuba.

Cuba, which carried out preventive evacuations of more than 700,000 residents, has so far reported no fatalities. But several provinces in the east have suffered considerable damage to homes, infrastructure and crops.

“The US is coordinating with the Catholic Church the distribution of US$3 million in humanitarian assistance directly to those in eastern Cuba most impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa,” the state department’s bureau of western hemisphere Affairs posted on X.

“Our prayers are with the brave Cuban people,” it added.

Washington has imposed an economic embargo on the communist-led island for more than six decades.

On Friday, the state department said it was ready to provide aid to Cubans impacted by the hurricane “directly and via local partners”, without going through the government.

In the past, the Catholic Church has regularly served as mediator between the two ideological foes.

Havana bashed the offer and called for a lifting of the embargo.

US emergency response teams have also been sent this week to Caribbean locations, including Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas.