During a visit to El Cobre, a town in Santiago de Cuba ravaged by Hurricane Melissa, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel found himself in a tense confrontation. When a local woman, affected by the hurricane, demanded help for the loss of her bed, Díaz-Canel's response was dismissive and exacerbated the situation.
As he toured the area, Díaz-Canel stated that "assessment teams will be sent to evaluate" the damage and needs of affected families. However, when confronted by a resident shouting, "we don't have a bed," the visibly irritated leader retorted, "And I don't have one to give you right now."
This comment, shared by influencer Alex Otaola on his program, sparked outrage among those present, who were seeking concrete answers and immediate assistance in the wake of the cyclone's destruction. Many victims reported losing their homes, belongings, and food, and have yet to receive any state aid.
Attempting to soften his earlier statement, Díaz-Canel added, "I already told you there are groups making donations and resources being managed by the State," referring to the support brigades and donations supposedly en route to the eastern part of the island.
The images of this exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread criticism of the leader's lack of empathy and the regime's slow response to the crisis. Otaola also noted that many residents were forbidden from approaching Díaz-Canel during his official visit.
Many netizens pointed out that El Cobre, a symbol of faith and resilience, remains in ruins days after Melissa's passage. This incident adds to the mounting social discontent in Cuba, where criticism of the government's handling of natural disasters and the economic crisis is becoming increasingly vocal.
Questions on Cuban Government's Response to Natural Disasters
What was Díaz-Canel's reaction when confronted by a hurricane victim in El Cobre?
When a woman affected by Hurricane Melissa asked for help regarding the loss of her bed, Díaz-Canel responded dismissively, stating that he did not have a bed to give her at that moment, which caused public outrage.
How did the Cuban government plan to address the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa?
Díaz-Canel mentioned that assessment teams would be deployed to evaluate the damage and needs of affected families. He also talked about donation groups and resources being managed by the State to support the affected areas.