The Cuban comedian Andy Vázquez, known for his popular character Facundo on the series ‘Vivir del cuento’, made a call to help those affected by Hurricane Oscar in Eastern Cuba.
"I am here to ask the community for help, to all the people who want to assist our brothers over in eastern Cuba, who have lost everything. Those interested can write to me at the number 239-470-8181," said the actor this Friday in a live stream on his social media.
Vázquez displayed a series of packages containing donations made by Cubans in the United States, as well as those prepared by himself.
"I’m going to show you here the items that have already been brought in. Today, a family brought this clothing. We are going to receive clothes, toys, nails, hammers, whatever it is... These are the things I bought yesterday at Walmart. I bought 100 pounds of beans, 270 candies, and other little things... Here are also all the items left from the previous donation from the lady whose house burned down," the actor explained in his livestream.
Vázquez also explained that those interested in collaborating should do so through donations and not with money. "No money, all donations... little things that you have lying around, things you don't use," he emphasized.
"There are families who have lost everything, everything, everything in Cuba, and they need our help. Those who want to help should join us. Those who want to criticize should step back. This is simply to help our brothers who have lost everything," said Vázquez.
In another video shared on Instagram, the actor showcased the donation made by a Cuban from Miami who received assistance from the community after being a victim of a fire in her apartment and losing all her personal belongings.
Grateful for the volume of aid received, the young woman decided to send boxes of clothes and utensils that were left over from the donations she received in the United States to her compatriots in Cuba.
"I have no words to thank you all. We are doing well now, in a little apartment with everything we need. We came to bring the things we had left over from the donations we received," said the young woman at Andy's house.
Severely affected by the recent passage of Hurricane Oscar, Eastern Cuba continues to experience the effects of adverse weather conditions. In the early hours of this Friday, heavy rainfall fell, especially in Baracoa, where flooding has caused significant damage and shows no signs of letting up.
People in Baracoa continue to be without electricity, lacking fuel to cook food, facing shortages of drinking water, and having limited information about what is happening in their province and in the country.
The day before, many were alarmed, wondering if another cyclone was on its way, as Hurricane Oscar had caught them in their homes unprepared, without stockpiling food, and misinformed due to widespread power outages.
Thousands of people were unable to evacuate in time, and the death toll provided by authorities has risen to seven, including a mother and her daughter, as well as three elderly individuals.
In light of the deteriorating situation, the Cuban regime announced on Friday that it was beginning the evacuation of Baracoa, following "the experience of the last few days," during which several people lost their lives due to the floods associated with Oscar.
"The difficult experience of recent days shows that we cannot let our guard down. We urge the people to stay informed and alert," said the Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, on his social media, informing that "the authorities are taking measures to ensure the evacuation of residents."
As search and rescue efforts continue amidst adverse weather conditions, many on social media claim that several families remain missing and that the number of victims could exceed the figure officially reported by authorities.
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