With slow-moving Tropical Storm Melissa expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane as soon as Saturday as it churns towards Jamaica and southwest Haiti, the United Nations said Friday it's actively helping the Caribbean respond to any devastation.

Hurricane Melissa was regaining strength Tuesday night as it was taking aim at Cuba after battering Jamaica throughout the day, forecasters said.

A hurricane warning is in effect for Eastern Cuba, and the southeastern Bahamas as the storm passes over Jamaica, while a tropical storm warning is in place for Haiti and Turks and Caicos as Melissa is forecasted to cause heavy rainfall and strong winds, leading to flash-flooding and landslides in the region over the next two days.

The southern peninsula of Haiti remains under a hurricane watch, and all of Jamaica is under a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning. Both countries are forecast to see a tremendous amount of rain, enough to potentially spawn life-threatening mudslides and flash flooding in Haiti and the island of Hispaniola.