Raúl Castro declares "victory" against Hurricane Melissa as thousands of Cubans suffer damage in the east

Before the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, Army General Raúl Castro sent a message to the people assuring them that he was aware of the development of the phenomenon and the measures taken to mitigate its effects.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of the Interior on Facebook, Raúl expressed "satisfaction with the responsibility with which the work has been carried out and the level of preparation," and emphasized the need to maintain the highest level of discipline during the event and in the recovery phase.

The message, read by Brigadier General José Amado Ricardo Guerra, also included his conviction that "in the face of this new challenge, we will also emerge victorious."

Ricardo Guerra, a member of the Political Bureau of the Party and secretary of the Council of Ministers, presented the text at a meeting of Miguel Díaz-Canel with the National Defense Council.

"It will be a very difficult night for all of Cuba, but we will recover, always with faith in the victory instilled in us by Fidel and Raúl," said the leader.

The triumphant tone of Raúl's message contrasts with the structural vulnerability of the population and Cuban infrastructure, which have deteriorated due to years of poor economic management.

The rhetoric of "victory" in the face of Hurricane Melissa seems disconnected from the daily experiences of those who must rebuild their homes and survive amid flooding and power outages.

However, while the leadership celebrates its supposed preparedness and discipline, reports coming from eastern Cuba depict a very different reality.

Photos and videos show destroyed houses, torn roofs, fallen trees, and impassable roads, further worsening the lives of thousands of families.

Official shelters do not always have enough mattresses, food, or medical care, and many residents face the storm without basic resources to protect themselves.

Melissa has once again highlighted the fragility of civil protection systems and the inability of authorities to ensure safety and sufficient resources in the face of natural phenomena.

While Raúl celebrates the discipline and the "level of preparedness achieved," thousands of Cubans face the storm with the only certainty that the disaster will leave a mark on their lives long after the official messages disappear from social media.