A donation of tents arrived in Baracoa this Monday to support families affected by Hurricane Oscar, which initially resulted in seven deaths, alleviating the critical situation faced by the local population.
The official Radio Baracoa reported on Facebook about the arrival of the donation, sharing images that show the tent canvases, the poles that provide structure, and the fastening pieces.
The World Food Programme (WFP) in Cuba reported on social media platform X that within 48 hours of the severe impact of Hurricane Oscar, assistance began with the provision of 200 tunnel tents as temporary shelter for those who lost their homes.
The published note stated that two 42-square-meter tents were also delivered to the Defense Council and the Government.
The donation represents a small relief for the critical situation that still persists in several municipalities of Guantánamo, which are struggling to recover from the devastating impact of the cyclone and continue to be affected by recent rains unrelated to Hurricane Oscar.
In another post, Radio Baracoa reported that the persistent rain has hindered recovery efforts.
"It is currently raining in Baracoa, and the water threatens to delay the recovery work from the damage caused by Hurricane Oscar in this municipality," they noted.
Additionally, she noted that among those most desperate for the rain to stop are those who, nine days after the hurricane passed, still do not have electricity in their homes.
UNICEF, another international organization that has provided assistance to those affected by the cyclone, delivered a shipment of 1,498 kilograms of medicines and medical supplies, with the aim of supporting health services in the areas most impacted by the hurricane, particularly in the province of Guantánamo.
According to a statement from the international organization, this initial donation aims to enhance healthcare for approximately 140,000 individuals, including pregnant women, children, and adolescents in the easternmost province of the Caribbean nation.
UNICEF reported that, with the support of the General Directorate of Civil Protection and European Community Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), it has obtained "1,000 roofing sheets, 680 purlins, and 4,700 screws" for the reconstruction of 74 schools in the eastern province, EFE reported.
Additionally, the Mexican Embassy in Cuba, together with the Mexican company Richmeat, donated 100 tons of meat to affected families.
In a post shared on the social network X, the Embassy of Mexico in Cuba asserts that "the Cuban people are not alone" and declares its unconditional support for the dictatorship of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
So far, international aid and actions by local authorities are focused on the four areas most affected by Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo: San Antonio del Sur, Imías, Baracoa, and Maisí.
According to estimates from UNICEF, the impacted population amounts to 149,693 people, of which 32,600 (22%) are children, reported EFE.
Hurricane Oscar made landfall in Cuba on Sunday, near the coastal city of Baracoa in the Guantánamo province, as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Before leaving Cuban territory on Monday, the cyclone weakened and turned into a storm, passing through an area near Gibara in the province of Holguín, in the northeast of the country.
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