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The United Nations delivered a shipment of medical aid this Saturday in Havana to support over 90,000 people affected by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba.
The operation —carried out at José Martí airport with support from UNICEF Cuba— will be distributed "prioritarily" to the most affected eastern provinces, under the coordination of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), as announced by the UN on platform X.
The shipment includes 69 medical care kits with critical medications (including antibiotics and antihypertensives), equipment (such as stethoscopes and scales), and consumable materials to strengthen the healthcare response on the ground.
To prevent vector-borne diseases and treat dehydration in flood-affected communities, the shipment also includes 8,220 mosquito nets and oral rehydration salts.
According to the report, the MINSAP will organize the transportation and distribution to the areas most affected by the rains and winds, in a context of power outages, infrastructure damage, and isolated communities, factors that hinder both communication and the work of rescue and recovery teams.
The immediate goal is to sustain essential services while restoring access and local capacities.
In parallel with the UN aid, citizen initiatives were activated to collect donations.
The community project “Giving is Giving” launched a solidarity campaign —called by researcher and activist Mabel Cuesta— to collect food, clothing, medicine, and basic supplies for Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Guantánamo.
The organizers called for the sharing of the announcement and indicated that in the coming hours and days, ways to support from the diaspora will be announced, emphasizing that every contribution can be decisive for those affected.
The publications associated with the campaign highlight the spirit of solidarity both within and outside the island, while also showcasing the limitations faced by distribution channels under state control. This situation has driven citizens to self-manage part of the aid as institutional shipments progress.
The combination of international assistance and community mobilization aims to alleviate an emergency that, following the passage of Melissa, leaves eastern Cuba with a high demand for medical supplies and logistical support to reach the most vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, the Banco de Crédito y Comercio (BANDEC) has set up an account in Cuban pesos (CUP) to receive donations for the victims of Hurricane Melissa.
However, Cubans have expressed their distrust that the donations will effectively reach the affected families.
Many citizens prefer that assistance be provided directly to families or that the arrival of construction materials be allowed without bureaucratic hurdles or tariffs.
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