Residents of the town of Sigua, south of Santiago de Cuba, without food or milk for the children: "The government doesn't even show its face."

In the hours leading up to the impact of the hurricane Melissa, the residents of the coastal town of Sigua, south of Santiago de Cuba, raised a cry for help: they claim that they have not received food, bread, or milk for the children, and that local authorities have not addressed the impending emergency.

“We are just moments away from a catastrophe and the government is not showing any response. No one has come, no one has brought anything… We are desperate,” expressed several residents in statements to independent journalist and activist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who raised the alarm on the social network Facebook.

The lack of basic resources —especially food and essential products for children— keeps families in Sigua on edge and in distress, a vulnerable community due to its proximity to the sea and with insufficient infrastructure to withstand winds exceeding 250 km/h anticipated with the arrival of Melissa.

"The government doesn't show its face."

Residents are reporting that no representative from the Provincial Defense Council or the Commerce Company has appeared in the area to organize the distribution of food supplies or provide assistance ahead of the cyclone.

"The only thing we ask is for them to bring us food before the hurricane leaves us cut off. We don't want to die of hunger before Melissa sweeps us away," said a mother of three children, her voice choked with fear and helplessness.

Abandonment before impact

Sigua is located 25 kilometers from the city of Santiago de Cuba and is often one of the first coastal areas to endure the impacts of storms and high tides. However, residents claim that no visible evacuation plan or supply distribution has been implemented, despite warnings from the Meteorology Institute.

While Hurricane Melissa continues to approach with sustained winds of category 5, the community remains without food, without fuel, and without state assistance, in a scene that reflects the institutional neglect with which the regime typically handles humanitarian crises.

In the comments section of the post, others similarly criticized the government's neglect amid the distressing situation prevailing in the east of an island stranded in time.