In the wake of widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero visited the Cauto Cristo municipality in Granma. During his visit, he proposed an official solution that sparked outrage among many: selling a small amount of vegetables to those affected by the disaster.
Faced with residents still struggling to salvage what remains of their homes, Marrero acknowledged that international donations are arriving in the country. However, he conceded that Hurricane Melissa merely exacerbated an already existing and prolonged crisis. "We were already in a bad situation, with many problems like dengue and other diseases... issues that had been accumulating," he admitted.
Proposed Solutions Amidst Food Shortages
Instead of presenting a robust food supply plan, Marrero suggested selling the incoming vegetables to the disaster victims or using them to make a communal stew. "Many people have lost their crops and livestock. We need to find alternative solutions, make the stew, and see how we can bring the arriving vegetables to the community and sell a little of them," he stated.
While Marrero mentioned that the government would provide financial assistance to the most critical cases, he did not clarify whether this aid would be a state contribution or a loan that families would have to repay.
The Struggle for Basic Necessities
Marrero's visit also highlighted the urgent need for mattresses among those who lost everything. Attempting to show empathy, he inquired if residents had received any mattresses. However, the scene appeared more politically calculated than genuinely compassionate, especially after a recent incident involving Díaz-Canel, who coldly responded to a woman pleading for help to recover her bed: "I can't give you mine now either."
This incident went viral, intensifying public discontent and forcing officials to attempt damage control. In Cauto Cristo, a local census recorded 103 damaged camero mattresses and 56 personal ones, yet by last Wednesday, only 50 camero mattresses and 26 personal ones had been distributed to those able to return to what was left of their homes. The authorities offered no delivery timeline for the remaining victims.
Community Resilience in the Face of Government Inaction
In the Granma municipality, over 200 homes suffered damage, alongside 70 kilometers of roads, and there were losses of livestock and crops. Despite this, the distribution of essential goods is progressing at an agonizingly slow pace.
More than two weeks after the hurricane's passage, numerous families in Granma, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba remain without beds, roofs, food, or answers. Government promises of "permanent follow-up" starkly contrast with reality, where inundated communities depend more on the spontaneous solidarity among neighbors than any state action.
In many areas, the local population has taken the initiative, organizing to distribute food, aid the elderly, and recover belongings, while authorities simply request patience and discuss "alternatives."
The official rhetoric claims that "no one will be left helpless," yet the on-ground scenes portray a different story. The nation fails to ensure even the most basic necessities amidst an emergency that demands swift action, resources, and transparency.
Amid media gestures, vague statements, and proposals bordering on absurdity, such as selling vegetables in a devastated and hungry region, the government yet again proves inadequate in addressing the suffering of its people. Meanwhile, the victims of Hurricane Melissa continue to call for more than just words. They await tangible actions in a country where each new storm not only destroys homes but also erodes faith in institutions that consistently arrive late and achieve little.
Questions on Government Response to Hurricane Melissa
What was Marrero's controversial suggestion to the hurricane victims?
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero suggested selling a small amount of vegetables to those affected by Hurricane Melissa, which sparked outrage.
How did the local communities respond to the government's actions?
Local communities took matters into their own hands, organizing food distribution and aid efforts while the government actions remained slow and inadequate.
What challenges do the victims of Hurricane Melissa face?
The victims continue to face challenges such as lack of beds, roofs, food, and clear government responses more than two weeks after the hurricane.