One week since Hurricane Ian crossed the western part of Cuba, thousands of people are left without electricity, adequate food, water and communication services due to widespread damage to housing, infrastructure and the agricultural sector in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana.
At least 36,700 homes in the hurricane-affected regions have undergone severe damage, mainly to their roofs. In Pinar del Río, over 27,300 people have been evacuated (25,000 of them to the homes of family and friends) and health services have also been disrupted as a result of the damage to hospitals, clinics and other facilities. In Artemisa, evacuation is continuing in 37 centres with the necessary conditions for the affected people to stay.
To date, the government has not been able to adequately meet the basic needs of communities, particularly those who are displaced, as a result of Hurricane Ian. While affected communities have been able to have limited access to services, thousands of people continue to still be without homes, drinking water and food. In addition, the destruction of crops has led to the loss of work and livelihoods for farmers in parts of the country.
In response, members of the Caritas Confederation are working together to help assess the unfolding humanitarian situation in Cuba to provide life-saving support and assistance for those most in need in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, Mayabeque and Havana. Through its networks, Caritas hopes to especially reach out to particularly vulnerable populations in provinces that have become disconnected, or are inaccessible, due to the destruction of roads or telecommunications networks.
Caritas Cuba have imported food to Havana and Pinar del Rio for canteen services of the Elderly People’s Programme and day-care centres of the Human Development Groups Programme. Caritas Cuba is preparing a list of basic necessities, including drinking water, non-perishable food and hygiene items for those affected, including the elderly, people with disabilities, the sick, children, adolescents and young people. Caritas Cuba hopes to raise funds outside Cuba to import relief goods as soon as possible to affected communities. To date, Caritas Havana has begun the delivery of imperishable food and hygiene modules (115) in the communities of El Cajío, Güira de Melena and Surgidero, Batabanó.
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