Food, Medicine Reach Cuba
October 3, 2008—As Cuban residents face the task of rebuilding after two devastating storms, Catholic Relief Services and our partners are sending 350,000 pounds of food and supplies.
As of September 26, 2008, two shipping containers of food and supplies had already arrived in Cuba. Nine containers have been scheduled to arrive this week.
"This initial delivery of supplies will be used towards our goal of assisting at least 20,000 Cubans," says Lynn Renner, CRS regional representative for the Caribbean, noting that CRS is also working with our Church partners and Caritas Internationalis to send roofing materials for hundreds of families.
Cuba faces a massive rebuilding effort following recent hurricanes that ripped off roofs and downed trees and power lines as they hit western Cuba. Photo by Reuters/Henry Romero, courtesy www.alertnet.org
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike tore through Cuba on August 30 and September 9, causing $5 billion in damages according to Cuban government estimates. Gustav's winds reached over 200 mph in Los Palacios, and rains from both storms caused sea swells and flooding throughout the island.
Over 3 million people were evacuated, 444,000 homes suffered complete or partial roof collapses, and more than 63,000 residences were demolished. Schools, hospitals, water distribution, agriculture and the electrical system received severe blows from the combination of wind, rain and flooding. Downed trees and power lines, along with swollen rivers, cut towns off from the rest of the island. The areas of Pinar del Río, Las Tunas, Holguin, Camaguey and Isla de la Juventud are the most affected.
Our Response
CRS is working with our South Florida partners, Daughters of Charity SVP and Catholic Charities Miami, to provide the initial aid. CRS' Latin America and Caribbean Severe Weather Fund helps assist residents who have lost homes and necessities during times of disaster. They often have little means of providing for themselves.
The Miami-based Daughters of Charity and teams of volunteers have been working around the clock filling boxes with donated goods. Boxes of relief supplies have overrun the sisters' homes and spilled out onto their driveways. The goods are classified in accordance with Cuban and U.S. government regulations. The containers will go directly to our partner Caritas Cubana and will be delivered by them in conjunction with local Cuban officials.
"There is no precedent for an emergency of this magnitude," says Caritas Cubana Director Maritza Sánchez, "In the past we've been able to purchase available supplies and offer assistance immediately, but the market is facing a shortage. We are in need of food, water, hygiene kits, roofing supplies, and household items such as sheets, towels and blankets."
CRS' Work in Cuba
CRS has worked with Caritas Cubana, the Catholic Church's relief agency, to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable and needy people in Cuba since 1993.
Over the years, CRS has delivered $26 million in medicine, medical supplies, food and clothing to Cuba for distribution in hospitals, homes for the elderly, and to children with Down syndrome and other vulnerable groups.
The CRS Cuba office is located at CRS headquarters in Baltimore. Our programs are overseen by a country manager in consultation with the Catholic Church in Cuba.
