Family members report delays in funeral services in Santiago de Cuba since before the cyclone

In the midst of the chaos facing the province of Santiago de Cuba following the devastating passage of the hurricane Melissa, relatives of patients are reporting a complete collapse of funeral and hospital services at the Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital, where at least 13 people have died and their bodies remain unburied due to the lack of management and response from the authorities.

The complaint was made public on Facebook by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who reported that the situation has been ongoing since before the cyclone and that to this day the bodies remain unhandled and not delivered to their families, which has caused scenes of desperation and profound sorrow.

"Since before the hurricane until today, at least 13 people have died in the Provincial Hospital. There are no answers, no organization, no respect for human suffering," denounced Mayeta Labrada.

Authorities promise solutions... that never arrive

According to the testimonies gathered, the first secretary of the Communist Party in the province, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, visited the hospital during the night and promised a solution by morning, but so far, nothing has happened.

Relatives stated that the provincial funeral home informed them that they could not accept new bodies until they had "emptied" those already in storage, a situation that has sparked outrage and demands for accountability amid the emergency facing the region.

"We have been here for hours, waiting to say goodbye to our relatives. No one is giving us a clear answer," wrote a user on social media, who claimed to be a relative of one of the deceased.

Santiago de Cuba, a province on the edge

The health and social situation in Santiago de Cuba is critical. Following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, hospitals are operating without stable electricity, without running water, and facing a shortage of basic resources, while hundreds of homes have collapsed and entire neighborhoods remain under water or cut off from communication.

Delays in funeral services, combined with a lack of communication from local authorities, have heightened social unrest in a province that was already experiencing a tense situation due to shortages, power outages, and logistical collapse.

"The province is experiencing an extremely tumultuous moment. What is happening in the hospital is merely a reflection of the widespread chaos that prevails throughout the entire state structure," commented a resident of the eastern region.

"Cuba deserves dignity, even in death."

The complaints are multiplying while the government remains silent or limits itself to general statements about "the recovery" of eastern Cuba.

For families who have lost their loved ones, the lack of humanity and institutional organization is unacceptable.

"Families deserve clarity, respect, and humanity. Cuba deserves transparency and dignity, especially in its darkest moments," concluded Mayeta Labrada in her post.