Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic have also sent humanitarian aid.

On Sunday, nearly 30 tons of food and basic necessities arrived to Cuba on the first of six planned flights from China, as part of an emergency humanitarian aid shipment. Chinese Ambassador in Havana Huan Xi reaffirmed the commitment to bilateral cooperation after Hurricane Melissa hit Cuba.

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In the coming days, other Chinese donations will arrive by sea in Santiago de Cuba, including galvanized steel coils for roofing, photovoltaic systems, mattresses, and flashlights. Previously, Beijing had delivered 5,000 solar panel kits to homes without electricity in eastern Cuba.

The Cuban government informed of more than 149,000 damaged homes, 158,000 hectares of destroyed crops, 1.3 million displaced people, and thousands of customers without electricity, water, or telephone service.

Cuba is not alone

The United Nations launched an action plan to raise US$74.2 million for the affected people and the restoration of essential services. So far, Cuba has received aid from 27 countries.

Venezuela, Colombia, Japan, India, Spain, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic also sent aid to Cuba either individually or in coordination with multilateral organizations.

UN agencies such as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP) mobilized food, repair materials, lighting towers, and drinking water systems.

These supplies were crucial in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, providing essential support to affected populations.

Shelter materials were also distributed to help those who had lost their homes, while medical teams provided emergency care and hygiene kits to prevent the spread of disease.

The coordinated efforts of these agencies, along with local organizations and governments, aimed to address the most pressing needs and facilitate the initial stages of recovery.

According to the Cuban Foreign Trade Ministry, Iran donated 8.8 tons of rice destined for Granma province.

The donation is part of humanitarian flights that continued until Monday, carrying items to help in the recovery of the affected territories.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, made landfall on October 29 with winds of up to 200 km/h, torrential rains, and a storm surge.

It caused flooding and severe damage in Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Las Tunas, and Guantanamo provinces, affecting homes and basic services.

The Hurricane also caused significant damage to state entities, telecommunications infrastructure, the agricultural sector, and the road and rail network.

The UN and international governments continue to send resources to repair the damage and assist the affected population.

teleSUR: JP

Source: EFE

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