A shipment of 20 tons of humanitarian aid for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba arrived this Sunday at Antonio Maceo Grajales International Airport in Santiago de Cuba, on a charter flight from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) coming from Panama.
The donation, which has the capacity to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 1,500 people, consists of cooking kits, hygiene kits, rest kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, tool kits, and plastic tarps, the organization stated in a statement on its website.
“These items will be distributed by the Cuban Red Cross in the areas most affected by the hurricane,” he emphasized.
The official communication emphasized that this first shipment was carried out in record time, thanks to humanitarian aid funds pre-positioned by the IFRC at its Humanitarian Hub, located in Panama, where it stores essential items sufficient to assist 20,000 people within 48 to 72 hours after a disaster.
The federation emphasized that this initial aid is a result of its "efforts to ensure a rapid and high-quality humanitarian response," alongside an emergency appeal to raise 15 million Swiss francs (approximately 18 million US dollars) to assist 100,000 people over the next two years in Cuba.
The donation arrived in Santiago de Cuba from Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, in an operation coordinated by the IFRC, in collaboration with Copa Airlines and the Cuban Red Cross.
Officials from these institutions highlighted the logistical efficiency with which the flight was organized and the regional solidarity that made this intervention possible. “It is always a pleasure for us to help the Cuban people, especially in such difficult times as those they are facing now,” expressed a representative from the Panamanian airline to the Santiago television station.
A representative of the Cuban Red Cross reported that the resources will be distributed among the most vulnerable family units in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Holguín, the areas hardest hit by the weather phenomenon.
The delivery of the donation —he said— will be carried out by the Red Cross, in coordination with the Defense Councils, prioritizing affected families, women with children, the elderly —including those who live alone— and people with disabilities.
What do the kits donated to the hurricane victims contain?
The note from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies outlines the contents of the kits that make up the donation.
Hygiene kits contain essential products such as soap, toothbrushes, shampoo, menstrual hygiene items, towels, and toilet paper, to “help families maintain their health and personal care after the hurricane.”
These modules, along with the mosquito nets, are essential for preventing diseases in situations where access to water and sanitation has been disrupted.
Meanwhile, the kitchen kits will provide utensils for the preparation and serving of food for five people, and the tools will facilitate cleaning and reconstruction efforts.
At the same time, the rest modules include sheets and pillows, which allow families who lost their homes to have better conditions in temporary accommodations.
"Together, these kits support daily life, health, and recovery," emphasizes the information.
Countries and organizations send aid to Cuba
In addition to the aid sent by the International Red Cross from Panama, other countries and international organizations have mobilized resources to Cuba to assist those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The United Nations (UN) delivered on Saturday in Havana a to support more than 90,000 people affected by the cyclone in eastern Cuba.
The government of the United States announced this Sunday the allocation of 3,000,000 dollars in humanitarian assistance for the Cubans affected by the hurricane that devastated several eastern provinces.
Colombia dispatched 22 tons of humanitarian assistance, coordinated by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The donation included food, personal hygiene kits, sets of bedsheets, and tents.
Through the Chinese Red Cross, the Asian country sent one thousand emergency family kits, consisting of hygiene items, blankets, and essential utensils.
Venezuela contributed 26 tons of aid to the eastern region of Cuba, in a gesture that fits within the usual cooperation between both allied governments.
At the same time, the community of Cuban exiles in Miami has organized campaigns to provide direct support to those affected on the island.
The initiative “Help for Eastern Cuba” is gathering donations from citizens, activists, and artists willing to assist in sending food, medicine, and clothing to the provinces affected by the cyclone.
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