Residents of the area publicly thanked the help received and highlighted the importance of it arriving without going through state structures.
MIAMI.– Marisleisi Orama from Santiago, resident in Houston, United States, chose to send food and hygiene products directly to the residents of the Nito Ortega Popular Council, in the Palma Soriano municipality, without the intermediation of local authorities.
The initiative was disclosed on Facebook by José Miguel Rodríguez Moreno, who coordinated the delivery and published images of the delivery in the community. As he explained, the donation allowed numerous families to access food and basic items in a time of extreme urgency.
Residents of the area publicly thanked the help received and highlighted the importance of it arriving without going through state structures, repeatedly accused of withholding donations or later selling them in government stores.
The former politician Aimara Nieto expressed: “Cuba needs many people like you. It is important not to let the government take over the aid, which should be received by those who truly need it.”
In another post, Marisleisi Orama expressed her commitment to her community. “Thank you for those nice comments. Tomorrow we will do more. Help those people from the heart. God bless my people greatly,” he expressed.
The Nito Ortega Popular Council, known as “Nuevo Palma” covers five urban communities, one semi-urban and two rural communities. All of them are among the most affected by the impact of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on October 29 as a category 3 and left destroyed homes, flooded streets and severe material damage.
Other independent citizen networks, on and off the island, have also announced campaigns to help those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
