Methodist Church Perseveres in Providing Aid to Hurricane Melissa Victims in Cuba

The Methodist Church in Cuba has announced its ongoing efforts to deliver aid to families affected by Hurricane Melissa, which battered the eastern part of the island in late October.

Through a post on their Facebook page, the religious organization shared recent images of their humanitarian activities, accompanied by the message: “Aid continues to reach families impacted by Hurricane Melissa. This is the Church at work.”

The images showcase pastors and volunteers distributing food, clean water, and essential items to residents in the hard-hit communities of eastern Cuba. Other photographs depict destroyed homes and families who lost nearly all their possessions during the storm's onslaught.

Earlier, the Methodist Church had commenced humanitarian aid efforts in Santiago de Cuba, one of the provinces most severely affected by the hurricane. With the support of pastors and volunteer teams, they also transported a generator to areas without power. On that occasion, the institution expressed gratitude for the support received, citing the biblical message: “As one man from Dan to Beersheba,” while announcing plans to extend their relief efforts to other eastern Cuban regions.

Hurricane Melissa left thousands homeless and caused significant damage in Guantánamo, Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba, resulting in power outages, destroyed homes, and communities without access to potable water or basic services.

Meanwhile, Cuban influencer and dissident Alexander Otaola criticized the U.S. government's recent announcement to channel part of its humanitarian aid to Cuba through the Catholic Church. In a Facebook post, he stated: “Sending aid to the Cuban people through the Catholic Church is tantamount to handing it over to the PCC's Department of Religious Affairs. The money is in their hands. We can't keep repeating the same mistakes. #lostaid U.S. Department of State.”

Otaola reminded his followers that on previous occasions, donations sent through religious institutions were held up at the port of Mariel and “were never accounted for.” He also claimed that “the aid ends up being sold in dollar stores, forcing Cuban families to purchase what you donated.”

According to the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, the American aid is intended to ensure that resources reach those most impacted by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, reinforcing Washington's commitment to supporting the Cuban people.

The host's statements were released shortly after the international assistance plan was announced, sparking a heated debate between supporters of his stance and those who defend the role of religious institutions in distributing donations.