Evacuees from the municipality of Río Cauto, in the province of Granma, reported on social media that they had been left to fend for themselves, without water, food, or adequate shelter, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which caused severe flooding and destruction in the area.
In a video shared in the Revolico Guamo group, the affected individuals recounted: “Here we were left, in Las Torres, with children, pregnant women, and physically impaired individuals. We are exposed to the sun, waiting for a transport from Jobabo, as if we don't matter at all. Nobody cares, this is sad and hopeless.”
The Municipal Defense Council (CDM) reported that more than 7,700 people from the municipality of Río Cauto have been evacuated to shelters, while others are staying with relatives. On Friday, some have begun to return to their homes, and the situation is critical.
According to reports gathered on Facebook, the evacuees were left near a railway line, exposed to the sun and lacking basic conditions, while they waited for a supposed transport that, for some, never arrived. Noticing the delay, they decided to walk back along the train tracks.
People were eager to rush home to check if their houses withstood the impact of the cyclone and the floods.
Several posts from residents in Río Cauto, Los Indios, El Mango, Guamo, and Cautillo confirm that the communities remain submerged in wet mud, with dead animals, pests, overflowing latrines, and a risk of diseases.
"The Mango of Río Cauto is desolate, with no drinking water or food, and bacteria and plagues everywhere," lamented a neighbor on social media.
In the comments, residents demanded the presence of authorities, denouncing that no representative from the government or the Communist Party has visited the most affected area. "No one from the government has had the courage to come and see our situation," wrote another affected individual.
The testimonies agree that aid and donations are concentrated in municipal centers, while rural communities are still without mattresses, clothing, or basic food supplies. “Everything we had was lost under the water. No one helps us, no one listens to us,” said a mother affected by the disaster.
Hurricane Melissa caused severe material damage in the province of Granma, particularly in the flooded municipalities. Thousands of families lost everything— their homes, furniture, appliances, clothing, food, and more.
The Cuban regime has not provided any information on what it will do regarding the housing crisis in rural areas nor what the conditions of temporary shelters for the affected will be. Meanwhile, public outrage is growing in response to institutional neglect and the government's poor management.
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