On Wednesday, the Government of Venezuela sent more than 300 tons of supplies to Cuba as a gesture of solidarity in response to the damage caused by Hurricanes Oscar and Rafael, which have struck the eastern and western extremes of the island in a short period of time.
In statements from the port of La Guaira in the eponymous state, Yván Gil, Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that this action is in response to an instruction from President Nicolás Maduro.
Gil indicated that the supplies have been collected by the Venezuelan people as a "message of solidarity" towards Cuba.
The shipments include construction materials and primary care products to help alleviate the crisis caused by the hurricanes.
The diplomat emphasized that brotherhood and solidarity will continue to be the principles that unite Venezuela and Cuba, noting that both countries are partners in the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).
"Solidarity has always come from the Republic of Cuba, and today the Venezuelan people are giving back," stated the chancellor in a video posted on his Instagram account.
Impact of Hurricane Rafael in Cuba
Hurricane Rafael, a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall in the province of Artemisa at 4:20 PM (local time) and moved across the island with winds of up to 185 km/h and rainfall reaching 200 millimeters.
The Cuban Meteorological Institute (INSMET) reported that the phenomenon caused "severe damage" in the western provinces of Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana, as stated by Miguel Díaz-Canel during a meeting of the National Defense Council (CDN).
The Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, confirmed in a televised message that the damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture was "very severe."
Furthermore, the hurricane caused a total blackout in the country, marking the second instance of "zero national energy coverage” in less than two weeks, which further complicated the situation due to interruptions in repairs.
Díaz-Canel announced that he will visit the most affected areas to oversee the recovery process, stating that a new phase of reconstruction is beginning.
For his part, Marrero expressed optimism at the conclusion of his television appearance with a message of resilience: “Rest assured that we will recover and move forward. Forever onward to victory!”
However, Rafael has affected over four million Cubans, and the full extent of its impacts is expected to become evident starting this Thursday.
This hurricane is the second to impact the island this year. The previous one, Oscar, resulted in the deaths of eight people, caused damage to at least 12,000 homes, and affected 13,000 hectares of crops.
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