• Submitted by: admin
• Caribbean
• Environment
• Intense rains and floods
• national
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 12 / 2008

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The action by the island's largest grass-roots organization comes after damages caused in the country by the powerful winds of Gustav, with category four in the Saffir-Simpson scale of five, and Ike, with less category but more rain.

CDR secretariat member Ileana Urrusuno talked of the need to collaborate with institutions and organizations in recovery as an example of the Cubans' solidarity.

The leader urged the Cubans to maintain voluntary blood donations, indispensable for medical assistance, and maintain the production of medicines.

Only a week apart, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike have left significant losses in houses, agriculture and infrastructure, and sectors like tourism and nickel have been partial and totally paralyzed.

The Cuban Civil Defense' General Staff declared Thursday the recovery phase for the western province of Pinar del Rio and called to point out the situations of sheltered people.

Winds and rains associated to both phenomena left desolation over 621 miles of their ravaging course.

Although rains linked to Ike have decreased, several sites in east and west Cuba remain cut off, due to overflowing of rivers, steams and canals.

(PL)