UNDP Provides Power Generators to Granma Communities Hit by Hurricane Melissa

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, several communities in Granma province have been equipped with power generators and solar systems to address the ongoing energy crisis.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) announced on social media that these installations took place in Guamo Viejo, Grito de Yara, Vado del Yeso, and Cauto Embarcadero.

The generators are crucial for residents, enabling them to charge essential communication and lighting devices, while also aiding coordination efforts during these challenging times.

Despite a week passing since the hurricane, Río Cauto and Cauto Cristo municipalities remain on high alert due to flooding from continuous rainfall, which keeps water levels critically high and poses a risk of further downpours.

Granma province experienced a significant disruption in its connection to the National Electric System after several transmission towers collapsed, leaving it reliant on small-scale power generation units that meet only about 65% of the overall demand.

The UNDP procured these generators with the support of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and coordination with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, as part of a proactive response by the UN agencies in Cuba alongside Civil Defense.

In addition, autonomous photovoltaic systems with a capacity of 2 kWp (kilowatt peak) were activated at a university center in Río Cauto to ensure basic services and provide energy access to the nearby community.

Another system was set up at the University of Granma in Bayamo, accompanied by the delivery of a fuel generator.

The university initiatives are part of the FRE Local project, implemented by the University of Sancti Spíritus in partnership with UNDP and financially supported by the European Union in Cuba.

As a broader response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa, UNDP has initiated various measures throughout eastern Cuba.

Among immediate relief efforts, UNDP has launched a special call for local economic actors to aid the productive recovery. Micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as cooperatives, can access up to $40,000 in funding to resume operations in heavily impacted areas.

This financial assistance will be distributed through an emergency response platform backed by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and the European Union.

Prior to this initiative, UNDP had already engaged with local governments to assess urgent needs and invited state and private enterprises to contribute essential logistics, construction materials, and key services.

The overarching goal of these efforts is to bolster resilience in communities affected by the energy crisis and the destruction left in the wake of the cyclone.