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A Cuban identified on social media as Georgina Parada Castillo publicly denounced the neglect her mother is facing, a 90-year-old woman with a history of heart disease and hypertension, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa through the eastern region of the country.
In a post shared in the Facebook group “Cubanos en Curitiba PR”, the daughter reported that their home was destroyed after the cyclone and that the assistance received has been minimal. “The only thing they gave my mom was a package of beans, a package of coffee, and a can of meatballs,” she said.
According to what he explains in the same message, he was informed that they need to pay for a mattress to replace the one that was buried under the rubble: “They tell me they are going to sell a mattress that costs over 2000, but isn't that supposed to be given for free?”
The daughter indicates that she had to leave her job to care for her mother and that the elderly woman receives a monthly pension of 2,000 Cuban pesos (CUP), an amount that barely covers the cost of a mattress, food, and medication. “Where am I going to get that money from, my God?”
It also states that it has approached various authorities without receiving a concrete response.
The images released show collapsed walls, destroyed thatched roofs, and debris scattered over what remains of the furniture. In other photographs, the elderly woman is seen wearing an oxygen mask.
The post generated dozens of reactions. Among the comments, messages such as “How sad! And the government doesn’t care at all, how outrageous!” and “Oh my, mine has been in ruins since Hurricane Sandy, Melissa hit, and they haven't given me even a bag of rice, nothing” can be found, along with “My God, have mercy.” Other users suggested seeking external assistance: “Call the ambassador of the United States, he will help you. They sent aid to Santiago de Cuba for the victims of the hurricane, so call him and tell him they are charging you for the mattress.”
Other families in the eastern part of the country have also reported a lack of housing solutions following the hurricane. In Santiago de Cuba, a mother who lived with her children in a house deemed uninhabitable received an official response of “Get out of there,” despite the risk of collapse and the presence of minors in the home, as described in this case that occurred in that province.
In another episode, a 73-year-old woman with multiple health issues stated: “We are living in the open,” after losing her home due to the cyclone and not receiving any institutional response, amid administrative hurdles that prevented her from accessing construction materials.
Meanwhile, the head of the U.S. mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, visited affected communities in Holguín and other eastern regions last February to verify whether the humanitarian aid sent by the U.S. Administration was reaching those in need and to discuss the most urgent requirements with organizations such as the Diocese and Caritas.
In the municipality of Tercer Frente, the daughter of the 90-year-old woman claims that she continues to seek support from various agencies, without a concrete solution so far.
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