The Spanish government has delivered 9.3 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba to support those affected by Hurricane Oscar, which struck the eastern region of the country in late October, according to official sources. The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), part of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on Wednesday that the aid package includes 70 tents, 1,000 mosquito nets, and 227 kitchen sets, among other supplies, valued at $56,000, as reported by EFE news agency.
International Support Amidst Crisis
This donation is part of a larger international effort, adding to the 94 tons of essential supplies recently provided to the Cuban government by the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU). These contributions aim to assist those displaced by Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo, the most severely impacted province during the storm on October 20 and 21. The UN and EU aid, valued at over $600,000, was airlifted to the island with four flights between November 10 and 13.
The humanitarian aid is expected to assist approximately half a million people in Guantánamo, improving conditions related to housing, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene. According to information from UN agencies, the supplies delivered to Cuban authorities include medical supplies, water storage tanks, hygiene kits, chlorine tablets, tarps for temporary roofing, mosquito nets, solar lamps, and emergency shelter toolkits. Additional items such as thermal blankets, mattresses, tents, and kitchen sets are also included to enhance living conditions for those affected.
Coordinated Relief Efforts
The donation aligns with a coordinated action plan involving UN agencies, funds, and programs (including the UN Refugee Agency, Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization, UN Development Program, and UNICEF) as well as the European Union, in collaboration with the Cuban government.
Hurricane Oscar was the first to make a direct impact on Cuba during the current hurricane season, which concludes on November 30. The storm made landfall near Baracoa in Guantánamo as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale (which goes up to 5) and weakened to a storm before leaving the island near Gibara in Holguín.
Oscar battered the region for over 24 hours, leaving a trail of devastation: numerous flooded towns, destroyed homes, bridges, and other infrastructure, downed or damaged power and telecommunications networks, ruined agricultural crops, and the tragic loss of eight lives with two individuals still missing, according to the official report. Residents from the hardest-hit areas have criticized the Civil Defense system, accusing it of failing to warn them in time and not evacuating low-lying areas, all while the country was plunged into a blackout lasting over four days.
Cubans both on the island and abroad, along with independent organizations, religious institutions, international agencies, and governments from various countries, have also contributed donations to assist the affected population in Guantánamo.
Future Aid Plans
The UN system and the European Union have also announced plans to allocate resources to aid Cubans impacted by Hurricane Rafael, which struck the western part of the country on November 6, causing significant damage to homes, infrastructure, agriculture, and the electrical system.