Cuba affected by heavy rains and Tropical Storm Noel

Heavy rains since October 11, 2007 combined with Tropical Storm Noel on October 30, 2007 in the eastern part of the island nation of Cuba have provoked floods in five provinces of the country: Las Tunas, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Granma.

Country officials estimate the total loss at USD$500 million including USD$128 million in housing, USD$33 million in infrastructure and USD$20 million in production and services. A total of 21,987 houses were affected, of which 1,137 were totally destroyed and 2,543 were partially destroyed. The roofs of 18,302 houses were partially or totally lost. A total of 13,169 kilometers (8,182 miles) of road was damaged. Officials report that 62 communities are still cut off from communication and 7,000 houses are flooded. Electricity, communication and water services were affected. Several communities had to receive water through tanking trucks.

The situation in the province of Granma is considered critical due to severe floods in five municipalities. Paths, road, bridges and railway networks were severely destroyed. More than 100,000 persons were evacuated in the affected area by the Civil Defense and only one death was reported in the province. In Río Cauto, one of the most affected municipalities, 20,400 people were evacuated to the cities of Bayamo and Manzanillo. The province of Granma was also still recovering from Hurricane Dennis, which struck in 2005.

Through disaster preparedness with its trained facilitators, ACT member, the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC), has been closely working with churches in the area, strengthening their capacities to provide support including shelter and psychosocial care. Since the emergency began, both the Methodist Church and the Pentecostal Church have been providing shelter to floods victims in the city of Bayamo. CCC reports that the most urgent needs are blankets, sheets, mattresses, towels, clothes and foods.

CCC is further assessing the situation and is considering the possibility of requesting additional support from the ACT alliance.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).