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The hurricane Melissa caused unprecedented devastation in eastern Cuba, where over one million people were left without shelter or access to drinking water, and now face a heightened health risk due to outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and oropouche, according to the latest report from the International Red Cross published on November 5.
The document, which classifies Melissa as one of the most powerful cyclones in the Caribbean in recent history, reveals that 2.7 million Cubans were affected and 2.2 million need urgent assistance, while 735,000 people were evacuated prior to the storm's impact.
The hurricane, which made landfall on October 29 as a category 3 in Santiago de Cuba, left entire communities cut off, homes collapsed, hospitals flooded, and a growing health crisis.
The provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo are among the hardest hit, with over 60,000 homes destroyed or damaged, 461 healthcare facilities affected, and 1,552 educational centers rendered unusable, many of which have turned into makeshift shelters for thousands of families. More than 670,000 students are unable to attend classes, and 25,000 people remain in evacuation centers, according to the report.
The impact comes amidst the most severe economic and energy crisis the country has faced in decades. The Electric Union of Cuba reported damage to distribution lines causing prolonged blackouts in five eastern provinces, while the shortage of fuel and breakdowns in thermoelectric plants worsen the collapse of the national electrical system.
In addition to the material devastation, there is also a deterioration in health conditions. The report warns that the destruction of water networks and the lack of electricity to pump and purify the supply have left thousands of people without access to safe water, which threatens to worsen viral outbreaks.
Hospitals, already impacted by a shortage of medications, estimated at 70% of essential drugs, are facing flooding, collapsed roofs, and loss of medical equipment.
The Cuban Red Cross, supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), is conducting search and rescue operations, providing psychosocial support, and distributing basic supplies in the most affected areas. However, the organization warns that recovery will be “slow and unequal” due to the structural housing deficit, estimated before the hurricane at around 800,000 units, and the economic restrictions faced by the country.
The humanitarian situation is worsening with the loss of 78,700 hectares of agricultural crops and the collapse of cold chains, bakeries, and markets due to power outages. The report indicates that 40% of vegetable production has been destroyed, leaving thousands of families without sources of income or sufficient food.
In light of this situation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an emergency appeal for 15 million Swiss francs (around 18 million dollars) to assist 100,000 people over the next two years. “It will take people months, perhaps years, to rebuild their lives. This emergency appeal is essential to help the Cuban people,” warned the Secretary General of the IFRC, Jagan Chapagain.
A day later, on November 3, a 20-ton humanitarian aid shipment from Panama arrived in Santiago de Cuba, containing kitchen kits, hygiene supplies, bedding, tools, and plastic tarps for 1,500 victims in Santiago, Granma, and Holguín. The operation was coordinated by the IFRC and the Cuban Red Cross with logistical support from Copa Airlines.
The UN has also launched an action plan to raise 74 million dollars intended to assist one million people affected by Melissa, focusing on housing, drinking water, food security, and recovery of essential services. The agency warned that Cuba is facing an unprecedented challenge, with 75% of mobile phone service down, 90% of the antennas damaged, and rural communities cut off from communication.
With over three million Cubans affected and vast areas in the east still underwater or without electricity, the country is facing a significant humanitarian crisis. The Red Cross warns that public health risks will continue to rise in the coming weeks and that recovery could take years in a context of fragile economic conditions and severe structural limitations.
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