The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) reported this Monday that it has sent Cuba a donation of basic resources aimed at supporting early response and recovery from the imminent impact of powerful Hurricane Melissa in the eastern provinces of the island.
The donation includes 4 thousand tarps for temporary roof coverage, seven electric generators, six chainsaws, 259 specialized and basic tool kits for roof repairs and more than 2 thousand single-person mattresses, detailed a post from the organization published on social networks.
The UNDP explained that this initiative is part of its rapid response and preparation strategy for natural disasters, which is complemented by an analysis of existing resources in the territory and the mobilization of new ones.
“The objective is to support national early recovery efforts and reduce the suffering of affected families,” UNDP said in its statement.
Furthermore, he explained that these actions have the support of the United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF) and are part of the United Nations System in Cuba, which coordinates efforts with the national authorities and the Civil Defense to face the onslaught of the meteorological phenomenon.
The United Nations also reported this Monday on the activation of its Anticipatory Action mechanism in the face of the imminent blow of Hurricane Melissa in Cuba, with which it plans to distribute more than 100 tons of rice and emergency materials.
Cuba expects in the early hours of next Wednesday the direct impact of Hurricane Melissa – currently category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale – in its eastern provinces, where it will hit with strong winds, precipitation and storm surges that will cause flooding, as reported by the Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) of the island.
In the face of this dangerous meteorological contingency, the Cuban authorities have ordered the evacuation and protection of almost 650 thousand people in the areas that will be affected and have adopted a series of preventive measures to minimize risks and damages.
