Colombia Delivers 22 Tons of Humanitarian Aid to Cuba and Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa's Destruction

On Saturday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the dispatch of 22 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba and Jamaica in response to the severe damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean.

This relief effort, organized by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) in collaboration with the Colombian Foreign Ministry, comprises essential supplies, including food, basic necessities, and medical provisions.

“Departing on Jamaican ships that sought refuge in Cartagena, Colombia's humanitarian assistance is on its way to the people of Jamaica. We are sending 22 tons initially, with more to follow. Our priorities include Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica,” Petro stated on his X account, formerly known as Twitter.

The shipment leaving from the port of Cartagena includes 1,100 food kits, 1,100 personal hygiene kits, 2,800 sets of bed sheets, and 2,800 mosquito nets, according to the UNGRD. This was detailed by the Cuban state-run portal Cubadebate.

Additionally, the agency is considering sending further aid to Haiti, another nation severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa, which hit with winds up to 124 mph, causing torrential rains and widespread flooding throughout the Caribbean. “Solidarity with our Caribbean neighbors is a priority for Colombia,” the UNGRD emphasized in a statement, highlighting that support is coordinated through the National Committee for Extraordinary Disaster Management.

Simultaneously, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) confirmed the arrival of an air shipment to Cuba containing essential medical supplies to bolster health response efforts in the eastern provinces most affected by the hurricane.

This operation, carried out in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), focuses on the regions of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Holguín, where the healthcare system is grappling with significant challenges due to power outages, water shortages, and infrastructure damage.

Among the supplies are 69 medical care kits with essential medications (such as antibiotics and antihypertensives), equipment (including stethoscopes, scales, and blood pressure monitors), and consumables like syringes, gloves, and cannulas.

Additionally, 8,220 mosquito nets and oral rehydration salts have been sent to prevent vector-borne diseases and treat childhood dehydration.

“Ensuring the continuity of healthcare services is vital to mitigating post-emergency risks. This shipment contributes to disease prevention and ensures that hospitals and clinics have the resources necessary to safeguard families' lives,” said Alejandra Trossero, UNICEF's representative in Cuba.

UNICEF Cuba estimates that these supplies will aid over 90,000 people, focusing on children, adolescents, and pregnant women.

The agency also keeps pre-positioned supplies within the country, including 1,300 family hygiene kits in Las Tunas, 213 recreational kits for 21,000 children, 80 school kits, 209 early childhood kits, along with roofing materials and portable water purification plants.

These resources are a part of a comprehensive response strategy aimed at strengthening health, education, water, and sanitation sectors in the hardest-hit areas, where recovery and rescue operations are ongoing.

Hurricane Melissa left a path of destruction in eastern Cuba, leaving thousands of families without electricity or potable water, as authorities and volunteers strive to restore basic services.

The provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, and Holguín have suffered the most, with overflowing rivers, collapsed homes, and ruined crops.

Other nations, including Germany, China, and the United States, have also extended offers of assistance to the island's population.