Eight years after Hurricane Matthew struck Guantánamo, there are still individuals affected who are receiving cardboard from the government to replace the roofs of their homes.
This is how a resident of the Maisí municipality reported to state television, demanding answers.
"It has been eight years since Matthew hit, and all they give me is a cardboard roof. What can you do with a cardboard roof? Now they don't provide the answers I need, and I'm just stuck there..." she questioned.
The man specified that he had to buy expensive tiles because the government never provided him with anything to resolve his situation after the cyclone blew the roof off his home.
"I'm there with three blankets, so to speak, covering the room," he emphasized.
An elderly woman who lost her entire home revealed that the only assistance she received from the authorities was a tarp and a roll of cardboard.
"We patched a little spot there with pieces of tiles, and now they've given me a tarp," she specified.
According to a leader from Maisí, there are still 407 families who suffered total collapses of their homes due to Hurricane Matthew, and even today, eight years later, they continue to live in what the government refers to as "temporary facilities."
Additionally, the damage caused by Hurricane Oscar on October 20 adds to this. It is the second municipality with the highest number of impacts in terms of partial and total collapses of roofs and houses.
In October 2020, four years after Hurricane Matthew struck the city of Baracoa, its residents were still waiting for the assistance promised by the government to repair their homes, and they had only been sold a few tiles.
Two years earlier, the regime had barely rebuilt about 945 of the 3,529 houses destroyed in the municipality. Authorities warned that the housing stock would take five years to recover (assuming there were no more hurricanes) and urged the population to engage in construction efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation of Hurricane Victims in Guantánamo
Why is the Cuban government providing cardboard roofs to those affected by Hurricane Matthew in Guantánamo?
The Cuban government is providing cardboard roofs to those affected due to a lack of resources and ineffective management that has not prioritized the effective recovery of damaged homes. Despite the fact that eight years have passed since Hurricane Matthew, many victims continue to receive inadequate solutions, highlighting serious negligence on the part of the regime.
What measures has the Cuban government taken following Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo?
The Cuban government has decided to sell mattresses and construction materials to those affected by Hurricane Oscar, offering a 50% subsidy. However, this measure has faced criticism for being insufficient and for not taking into account the economic situation of the affected families, many of whom cannot afford these products even with the discount.
How many homes have been rebuilt in Guantánamo after Hurricane Oscar?
Only 8% of the homes damaged by Hurricane Oscar have been rebuilt, leaving thousands of families waiting for a solution. Recovery has been slow, and most of the repairs made are only partial, reflecting the ineffectiveness of the government's actions to address this crisis.
How has the international community responded to the hurricanes in Guantánamo?
The international community has provided assistance through organizations like UNICEF and the World Food Program, sending medical supplies, food, and temporary shelters. However, the distribution faces logistical and bureaucratic challenges that limit its effectiveness, exacerbating the situation for those affected.
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