The process of gradual return of the evacuees from Río Cauto began this Wednesday in the province of Las Tunas, after the floods caused by Hurricane Melissa, according to authorities from the Provincial Defense Council.
The director of Culture in Granma, Yordan Roberto León Rodríguez, who is in the Las Tunas territory as part of the coordination efforts, offered details to Radio Bayamo about the first actions of the return plan.
“We began the gradual deconcentration of the evacuees we have here in Las Tunas, who exceed 2,300 in evacuation centers and more than 750 in family homes,” he said.
“The decision, based on the information obtained from the authorities of Río Cauto and the Provincial Defense Council, is that The communities with the best situations to allow the safe return of evacuees are Miradero, Vado del Yeso, Grito de Yara, El Salao and Las 1009”he explained.
During the initial day, the process focused on the four evacuation centers located in the municipality of Las Tunas, where the return of some 352 residents was achieved, mostly from Miradero, but also from Vado del Yeso and Los Guayitos.
“In the case of the residents of Guamo, which is the other population with the highest concentration that we have here in the province of Las Tunas and who are mainly in Jobabo, in Colombia and there is a part, no less significant, in the main municipality, the strategy is to continue with this deconcentration, but prioritizing first the young force, the men who can go in an advance and join the recovery and sanitation work that is being done in the community,” added León Rodríguez.
The official specified that, starting this Thursday, groups of young men will be mobilized towards the most affected areas, with the aim of accelerate cleaning and rehabilitation work before the return of the rest of the familiesespecially women, the elderly and children.
The transfer of evacuees from Hurricane Melissa continues
As for the pending communities, it is expected that this Thursday the transfer of residents of Miradero, Vado del Yeso, Grito de Yara, Las 1009 and El Salao will continue. However, some cases will remain in evacuation centers for specific reasons.
“We have people left, families with children admitted with health problems and until today they were still not discharged and it was decided by the Provincial Defense Council that they would remain in the same evacuation centers,” he explained.
Finally, León Rodríguez assured that The total return will depend on the hygienic-sanitary recovery in communities like Guamo, one of the most affected.
“To the extent that Guamo recovers, especially, with stability in hygienic-sanitary conditions and the minimum of conditions regarding recovery, other decisions will be made,” he concluded.
