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The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced this Saturday the dispatch of 22 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba and Jamaica, in response to the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean.
The operation, coordinated by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and the Colombian Foreign Ministry, includes food, essential items, and medical supplies.
"Sailing on Jamaican ships that sought refuge in Cartagena, Colombia's humanitarian aid to the people of Jamaica. There are 22 tons of aid, and more will follow in the coming hours. We have prioritized Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica,” wrote Petro on his account on X (formerly Twitter).
The shipment, which departed from the port of Cartagena, contains 1,100 food kits, 1,100 personal hygiene kits, 2,800 sets of sheets, and 2,800 mosquito nets, according to the UNGRD. Additionally, the Cuban state-run portal Cubadebate provided further details.
"Solidarity with our brother nations in the Caribbean is a priority for Colombia," stated the UNGRD in a press release, emphasizing that support is channeled through the National Committee for the Management of Extraordinary Disasters.
In parallel, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) confirmed the arrival in Cuba of an air shipment containing essential medical supplies to support the health response in the eastern provinces most affected by the hurricane.
The operation, carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), prioritizes the territories of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Holguín, where the hospital system faces severe limitations due to power outages, lack of drinking water, and damage to health infrastructure.
The supplies include 69 medical care kits with essential medications (antibiotics, antihypertensives, and emergency drugs), equipment (stethoscopes, scales, and sphygmomanometers), and disposable materials such as syringes, gloves, and cannulas.
8,220 mosquito nets and oral rehydration salts were also sent to prevent vector-borne diseases and treat cases of childhood dehydration.
The continuity of health services is essential for reducing risks following an emergency. With this shipment, we contribute to disease prevention and ensure that hospitals and polyclinics have the necessary resources to protect the lives of families, stated Alejandra Trossero, representative of UNICEF in Cuba.
According to estimates from UNICEF Cuba, the supplies will allow for assistance to more than 90,000 people, with an emphasis on girls, boys, adolescents, and pregnant women.
The agency also keeps pre-positioned supplies in the country, such as 1,300 family hygiene kits in Las Tunas, 213 recreation kits for 21,000 children, 80 school kits, and 209 early childhood kits, as well as roofing materials and portable water purification units.
These resources are part of a multisectoral response strategy aimed at strengthening the sectors of health, education, water, and sanitation in the most affected areas, where rescue and rehabilitation efforts are still ongoing.
The hurricane Melissa left a trail of destruction in eastern Cuba, where thousands of families remain without electricity or drinking water, while authorities and volunteers work to restore basic services.
The provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, and Holguín have been the most affected, with overflowing rivers, collapsed homes, and devastated crops.
Other countries such as Germany, China, and the U.S. have offered assistance to the people of the island.
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