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The authorities in Santiago de Cuba have begun distributing essential goods and special diets to the population, prioritizing infants, pregnant women, and individuals over 65, amid the crisis caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The information was shared by the Facebook page of TV Santiago, a local state-run media outlet, which specified that distribution is carried out through state-run warehouses and sales points as products arrive at the facilities.
According to the publication, milk has already been delivered to pregnant women and children up to six years old, as well as chicken and picadillo intended for expectant mothers, children up to thirteen years old, and people over 65.
Authorities confirmed that, in a second phase, it is planned to distribute oil and grains to family units.
Ensuring access to food and its distribution in the most affected municipalities is, according to the official report, a priority in the province.
However, the population continues to face difficulties due to the scarcity of basic products and delays in the arrival of supplies, a structural issue exacerbated by the logistical collapse following the cyclone.
At this moment, one of the greatest challenges facing the population is precisely obtaining food, as even the few stores in MLC and USD that are stocked are closed due to a lack of electricity and connectivity.
Adding to this situation is the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa to agriculture, resulting in a scarcity of both fruits and vegetables in the streets.
On the other hand, the meat products, after a week of blackout, are missing, and those that are available run the risk of being spoiled due to lack of refrigeration.
Similarly, the regime's response has been ineffective so far, as many people in Santiago believe that back in 2012, when Sandy affected the region, food sales were immediately arranged, options that are currently not available.
However, this decision for "rationing" is not surprising. Before Hurricane Melissa made landfall, Cuban authorities provided residents of the municipality of Mella, in Santiago de Cuba, a set of food items as part of the state "assistance".
The "food modules" included: a pack of Criollo cigarettes, a can of El Norteño sardines, a package of spaghetti, and a bag of rice or some other unidentified product.
Following the impact of the cyclone in eastern Cuba, the regime also "supported" the population in Las Tunas.
The Business Group of Commerce of Las Tunas reported this Tuesday that the distribution and sale of one pound of chicken has begun, intended solely for children under 13, seniors over 65, and pregnant women, as part of the “recovery efforts” following Hurricane Melissa.
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