Moved by the plight of those hit hardest in San Antonio del Sur, a municipality in Guantánamo severely impacted by Hurricane Oscar, a Cuban entrepreneur with a mattress-making business has stepped up to help. He requested assistance to identify the most vulnerable individuals to whom he could donate some of his products.
Víctor Escalona shared on Thursday in the Facebook group "Revolico San Antonio del Sur" that he would return to the area "with new deliveries and five more mattresses to donate." Although he had already identified two recipients, he mentioned that three more mattresses were available for affected families.
"There are countless victims, and from what I saw, it seems like everyone is affected. I can't do it alone, but gradually, with every trip where I deliver five mattresses, we'll be making progress in helping those in dire need," Escalona remarked.
He explained that while his business aims to grow economically, witnessing the devastation in San Antonio del Sur compelled him to use his profits to cover the raw materials for five or six mattresses and the travel expenses to donate them.
Escalona invited anyone interested in placing orders or who knew someone in need to reach out to him via his WhatsApp contact number (51095045). In a prior post, he appealed for support for the population of San Antonio del Sur and expressed his distress over the destruction in the Guantánamo municipality.
Solidarity and Community Support
"I sincerely ask for support. As a self-employed worker, producer, and repairer of various items, including mattresses, I have donated six mattresses to the government of San Antonio del Sur, along with two more to families with children, a bed, and five pairs of boots," he stated, encouraging others to join in the relief efforts.
“Let us unite as human beings. Nothing remains there, absolutely nothing," he emphasized urgently, hoping his message would reach the government in Camagüey.
He highlighted that the province has the capability to produce thousands of beds and mattresses at the mechanical plant, underscoring the importance of utilizing these resources to assist the most vulnerable.
Impending Weather Threats
“We must support those people, the children, the elderly, and the disabled. Witnessing San Antonio del Sur now is like seeing a lost city,” he added, expressing hope that the community would receive the necessary aid and move forward, emphasizing the significance of unity and solidarity among Cubans.
Amid ongoing recovery from the damage left by Hurricane Oscar in eastern Cuba, the western region of the island now faces the imminent threat of Tropical Storm Rafael. In response to the potential danger posed by this new weather event, Cuba's Civil Defense Headquarters decided to initiate an alert phase on Monday for the provinces of Matanzas, Mayabeque, Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.