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The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported on his Facebook profile irregularities in the distribution of construction materials intended for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in the Chicharrones neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba. According to the reporter, materials sent by the government to repair damaged homes are not reaching the most affected families; instead, they are distributed “selectively” and in many cases to people “who did not lose everything.”
"They are doing the same thing as with Hurricane Sandy: materials that arrive for the victims but end up in the hands of leaders, activists, and acquaintances. There are families who lost their entire homes and are still waiting, while others with intact roofs have already received forms and resources," wrote Mayeta.
The journalist stated that “the people are outraged by the shameless way in which donations are being handled” and claimed to have received numerous messages from residents of Chicharrones and other areas with similar testimonies. “People do not understand how, after so many donations and assistance sent, the supplies do not show up. The little that arrives is divided among themselves,” he added.
In the comments of her post, dozens of people shared their complaints and recounted similar experiences. A mother explained that she lost the roof of her house and has five minor children, but the housing technicians informed her that her home “did not qualify” because it already had a roof, even though the sheets she uses were borrowed from her neighbors.
Other messages expressed the same frustration: "Stop stealing already, many people have lost everything"; "It's the same as with Hurricane Sandy"; "This is still out of control."
Mayeta pointed out that distribution problems "are not limited to one neighborhood" and that irregularities "are recurring in other municipalities such as El Caney, Loma del Gato, Altamira, Tivolí, and Contramaestre." In her post, she wrote that "corruption is so visible that people discuss it openly: those who distribute keep the majority for themselves, the true victims continue to wait, and no one takes responsibility."
"In Chicharrones," the reporter detailed, "there are houses with destroyed roofs, families living under tarps, and mothers still sleeping on the floor with their children. However, materials are being allocated to people whose homes are in good condition. It's complete chaos."
According to testimonies gathered in the comments, residents of Guamá, Manzanillo, and Contramaestre also reported not having received assistance. “This is happening throughout the east. Materials and donations are conspicuously absent,” wrote one of those affected. Others pointed directly at delegates and presidents of CDR, accusing them of “hoarding materials for their families and acquaintances.”
A 68-year-old retiree wrote that he is living outdoors, without credit or resources: “I lack posts, beams, cement, nails, and labor.” There have also been reports of people who are bedridden or whose homes have been destroyed and have not received assistance: “My mother is bedridden, and her room collapsed completely, and I haven’t seen anything”; “My daughter lost her roof and still hasn’t received anything at all.”
Mayeta concluded her publication by denouncing the lack of control and transparency in the distribution of materials: “There is no oversight or willingness. The government promises, but does not deliver. Meanwhile, the people wait among the ruins.”
Mayeta's complaints add to other recent reports about the lack of real assistance following Díaz-Canel's visit to Santiago de Cuba, where the victims of Hurricane Melissa are still awaiting effective aid.
A few days later, the Civil Defense declared "normalcy" in the provinces of Holguín, Granma, and Guantánamo, a measure that drew public criticism due to the ongoing blackouts, shortages, and devastation in the eastern part of the country.
In November, four storekeepers were arrested in Palma Soriano for stealing products intended for the victims, and in Guantánamo, there were reports of donated mattresses being sold for 3,730 pesos, despite being part of humanitarian aid.
The Provincial Defense Council acknowledged more than 95,000 homes affected in Santiago de Cuba, although recovery is progressing slowly due to a lack of materials and reports of corruption.
More than a month after the hurricane's passage, the complaints from Yosmany Mayeta Labrada and the testimonies of the neighbors reflect the widespread discontent in eastern Cuba, where hundreds of families are still waiting for the promised assistance.
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