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A new scandal related to the management of donations for victims of natural disasters has sparked outrage in Santiago de Cuba, following the recovery of dozens of mattresses that were supposed to be delivered to families affected by Hurricane Melissa, but never reached their destination.
According to the official profile of Facebook "Heroes of the Moncada", police officials conducted a search at a residence in the Julio Sanguily area on Friday, where they seized 40 mattresses intended for those who lost their belongings due to the recent weather event.
The note indicates that the items had not been distributed due to the actions of "unscrupulous elements" who intended to sell them at inflated prices in the informal market.
Following the police intervention, the mattresses were handed over to the relevant authorities, responsible for ensuring their subsequent distribution to those intended as beneficiaries.
The independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada also reported on the case on Facebook, although he stated that 44 mattresses were seized.
Mayeta pointed out that residents of Santiago de Cuba had been reporting irregularities in the distribution of mattresses for the victims for days, as well as their alleged illegal resale, until the situation erupted publicly on Julio Sanguily Street.
"According to reports from residents of the neighborhood, the items were part of the resources allocated to affected households, but they were diverted and hidden for the purpose of being sold illegally, at inflated prices and taking advantage of others' suffering," the note specifies.
Far from calming the situation, the police discovery heightened public outrage and sparked criticism regarding the security of donations, the lack of effective controls, and the opacity in the mechanisms for distributing humanitarian aid.
The neighbors fear that once again, this type of incident will fade away without clear consequences, and they demand that an investigation be conducted and responsibilities be determined.
"Diverting aid is not a 'business.' It is a betrayal of the solidarity that supports people in the toughest times," commented Mayeta.
Meanwhile, the recovery of the mattresses reveals a recurring problem: the gap between the assistance that is announced and the help that actually reaches those who need it most.
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