The Cuban government reported this Monday that it has maintained contact with the USA and has exchanged information related to the material damage suffered on the Island by the passage of Hurricane Ian last week.
In this way, information recently released by the The Wall Street Journalwhich claimed that the Cuban authorities had contacted their American counterparts, presumably to request emergency aid.
“The governments of Cuba and the United States have exchanged information on the considerable damage and unfortunate losses caused by Hurricane Ian in both countries,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) via his Twitter account
Governments of Cuba and the United States have exchanged information on the considerable damage and unfortunate losses caused by the #HurricaneIan in both countries.
We also maintain communication with other governments interested in the damage and needs for recovery in #Cuba
— Cuban Foreign Ministry (@CubaMINREX) October 3, 2022
The message, which does not offer further details about the exchange, adds that the Cuban government also maintains communication “with other governments interested in the damage and needs for recovery in Cuba.”
The Wall Street Journal published this Friday an exclusive entitled “Cuba makes an unusual request for US aid after the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian”, recalls a report from the agency EFE.
The news, according to the agency, explained that the Cuban government had requested “emergency assistance” from Washington and that the Democratic administration of President Joe Biden was in contact with the authorities on the island to find out how much help was needed.
Several emails, consulted by the newspaper, suggest that Washington has interacted with Havana to determine how much assistance is needed. According to these, it was concluded that a priority would be the health sector, facilities for pumping water, sanitation and other critical infrastructure, if the Biden Administration finally decides to provide help.
Cuba asks Washington for help to face the consequences of Ian, according to US newspaper
In recent days, assistance of various kinds has arrived in Cuba from MexicoVenezuela and Argentina, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) and its regional affiliate in the Americas.
In addition, groups of civil society in the United States requested through an announcement published this Saturday in the New York Times that US Government temporarily lift the economic and financial sanctions it maintains on Cubain order to facilitate reconstruction work in the west of the country after the passage of the recent meteorological phenomenon.
Hurricane Ian crossed the western end of Cuba from south to north on Tuesday, with intense rains and winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour, leaving an initial balance of three deaths and extensive material damage in the area.
Later two workers reported dead of the state Electric Union (UNE) who were part of the brigades of that entity deployed in the island’s capital with the aim of restoring the supply of electricity to the population.
Indirectly, and according to the official version, the passage of the hurricane caused the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN)leaving the Island without the possibility of generating electricity for several days, a fact that caused long blackouts and protests by the population in various parts of the country.
EFE / OnCuba
