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In the municipality of Río Cauto, Granma province, local authorities are conducting sales of packages containing ground beef and sausages intended for families affected by the floods caused by Hurricane Melissa, according to a local government worker.
José Manuel Rodríguez Valdivia, who identifies as a government employee in Río Cauto, reported on that sales are taking place at the former TRD store of Viviendas Campesinas, where each family unit can purchase a food module for 79 Cuban pesos, offering affordable food options that are still far from meeting the needs of a population where many have lost everything.
The regime official explained that the distribution covers the warehouses from El Rincón to Melones, as part of what he described as "supply efforts in this post-flood period following Melissa."
To make a purchase, residents must present the ration book, the state control system that remains the primary means of obtaining the few basic products in Cuba.
In another post, Rodríguez announced that the Provincial Collection in Ángel Frías Square is also offering agricultural products and drinking water to the residents.
According to the report, the kiosks set up in the rear area of the market sell root vegetables such as cassava, pumpkin, plantain, and green onion, as well as sugar, flour, tomato paste, elbow macaroni, broth, ham, ground meat, and prepared food, all priced at 10 pesos per portion.
As part of the support during this recovery phase, it was added that a free potable water truck has been made available for residents, in order to alleviate the shortage of this essential resource that persists in the area following the rains and flooding.
Although local authorities present these actions as aid measures, many residents have questioned why those affected should have to pay for basic food during a humanitarian emergency, when the majority have lost their homes, belongings, and livelihoods.
While in municipalities like Río Cauto the authorities choose to sell food modules to families who have lost everything, the Cuban regime has implemented parallel measures aimed at the controlled distribution of basic goods, prioritizing certain vulnerable groups following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
One pound of chicken will be sold to pregnant women and children up to 13 years old, as part of a government effort to assist these groups amid the food crisis exacerbated by the weather event.
This distribution, however, is limited to affected provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Holguín, and follows a logic of rationing supervised through the supply booklet.
In the same vein, the authorities of Santiago de Cuba announced that the distribution of food will focus on infants from municipalities with the highest level of impact.
According to local media, this decision is due to limitations in availability and transportation, which has made it necessary to establish priority criteria for accessing products such as powdered milk, baby food, rice, and beans.
More generally, the government confirmed that it will benefit those affected by the hurricane with the distribution of basic basket products through modules and other specific actions.
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