A shipment of humanitarian aid organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) arrived in Bayamo, Granma, on Thursday. This aid is intended for families impacted by Hurricane Melissa, which devastated eastern Cuba in late October 2025.
Volunteers and specialists from the Cuban Red Cross received and stored the supplies, which are part of an operation aimed at assisting approximately 100,000 individuals over a span of 24 months.
The shipment includes personal hygiene items, sanitary pads for women, various tools, roof tarps, and rechargeable lamps, addressing the most essential needs of those who lost or had their homes damaged.
Distribution Plans and Prioritization
Jorge Verdecia Ramírez, head of the Relief and Operations Group of the Red Cross in Granma, confirmed that distribution will begin next week in at least three municipalities that suffered the most severe impact from the cyclone.
"This aid is primarily directed towards the most affected and vulnerable individuals and families and will be distributed according to humanitarian and need-based criteria established by the organization," Verdecia Ramírez told the local media outlet Radio Ciudad Monumento.
He specified that part of the resources has already been used to deliver kits in critical areas such as Río Cauto, Jiguaní, and Cauto Cristo, three municipalities in Granma where the hurricane's consequences were particularly severe.
Impact and Recovery Efforts
The Río Cauto reached historic levels following Melissa's impact, exacerbating floods in that eastern region of the island.
Province-wide, the hurricane resulted in over 1,400 housing damages across nine municipalities in Granma, with numerous total and partial collapses, along with damage to more than 52,000 hectares of crops.
The scale of the disaster prompted the IFRC to issue an emergency appeal for 15 million Swiss francs—approximately 18 million dollars—to support the most vulnerable populations, with operational goals extending to October 2027.
An initial shipment of 20 tons had arrived in Santiago de Cuba in November 2025, and in July of this year, the Red Cross deployed photovoltaic technology in the hardest-hit municipalities of Granma.
Challenges in Cuba's Recovery
The humanitarian organization itself noted that recovery in Cuba post-Melissa has been "slow and uneven," a situation underlined by the arrival of this shipment to Bayamo nearly a year after the cyclone's impact, with thousands of families still waiting to rebuild their homes and regain some semblance of stability.
The United Nations estimated that 2.2 million people were severely affected in the eastern provinces by Hurricane Melissa, with more than 90,000 homes damaged or destroyed nationwide.
FAQs about Red Cross Aid in Cuba Post-Hurricane Melissa
What kind of aid did the Red Cross deliver to Bayamo?
The aid shipment to Bayamo included personal hygiene items, sanitary pads for women, various tools, roof tarps, and rechargeable lamps, aimed at meeting the basic needs of those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
How many people is the Red Cross aiming to assist with this operation?
The operation is designed to benefit approximately 100,000 individuals over a period of 24 months.
What challenges has Cuba faced in recovering from Hurricane Melissa?
Cuba's recovery from Hurricane Melissa has been described as "slow and uneven," with thousands of families still awaiting the reconstruction of their homes and the resumption of a stable life nearly a year after the disaster.