The devastating Hurricane Melissa It left a much more serious balance in Cuba than initially estimated: more than 90 thousand homes affected, about 3.5 million people affected and about 100 thousand hectares of crops damagedaccording to an updated diagnosis of the UN.
The magnitude of the catastrophe is “enormous”in the opinion of the global organization, which considers that, despite the efforts being made for recovery, Island authorities are “overwhelmed” with the needs of the numerous communities affected by the hurricane.
“Although the authorities have done a huge mobilization, managing to save lives -until now no deaths are officially reported— and managing to evacuate around 735 thousand people, national institutions are overwhelmed with the need to respond and produce the conditions for an early recovery,” said Francisco Pichón, resident coordinator of the United Nations in Cuba, in statements to the agency EFE.
After a new tour of the affected areas in the east of the country, Pichón explained that Early assessments underestimated the extent of the devastation caused by Melissa. And it’s no wonder.
The updated data reflects a 15% increase in housing damage and a 22% increase in agricultural damage With respect to previous reports of the cuban government.
The preliminary reports also record significant damage to around 600 health facilities and more than 2 thousand educational centerswhich has compromised the provision of essential services in rural and urban communities.
There is also significant damage to bridges, roads, railways, dams, telephone antennas and, especially, to the National Energy System (SEN), already affected by a structural crisis in recent years.
Almost a third of customers in the five eastern provinces affected by Melissa remain without electricitydespite the recovery work carried out by brigades from all over the country, which were recently joined by specialists from Venezuela.
Venezuela sends electricity and road specialists to Cuba to help in hurricane recovery
Melissa in Cuba and the international response
Faced with the catastrophic scenario caused by Melissa, the UN launched a Action Plan for Cuba with a request for 74.2 million dollars intended to cover the basic needs of the “severely affected” population.
The agency calculates that around a million people require urgent humanitarian assistancealthough the total number of victims amounts to 3.5 million.
“There is an enormous commitment from the authorities to be able to proceed with this recovery, but the needs are enormous“said the UN resident coordinator, who recalled that the United Nations “complements” the work of the authorities in coordination with the Government.
Pichón estimated that, after the recent diagnosis of the losses caused by the hurricane, the appeal for help to the island made by the United Nations to the international community has fallen short, reports the office of EFE.
Until now Cuba has received humanitarian aid from several countries, regional blocs and different organizations, but the official considers that a greater contribution is necessary.
In his opinion, it is necessary “not to leave Cuba alone at this moment, to be able to respond satisfactorily and achieve the recovery of basic services for the population.”
Melissa hit the country with sustained winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour and rainfall of up to 400 millimeters and more in some areas, which caused severe flooding and damage, in a context of serious economic crisiswith shortages of food, medicine and fuel, high inflation and prolonged blackouts.
The combination of these factors – which are also influenced by US sanctions and the internal inefficiencies and failed economic policies of the Cuban Government – aggravates the State’s ability to respond to the damage caused by the hurricane.
