Hurricane Charley tore through Cuba during the second week of August causing massive devastation in Havana Province and Havana City. Due to the early warning provided by the Weather Bureau and the Civil Defense as well as the preparedness measures taken to protect the population, the death toll reached only four with five persons injured.

However, the physical damages were widespread. Havana Province is the most densely populated area in Cuba where most of the important industries are located as well as the best agricultural land. According to the Cuban Civil Defense 40,100 houses were damaged and 8,300 totally destroyed. Damages to infrastructure: schools, hospitals, electricity, telephone and water distribution systems were extensive. Almost 2.5 million people had their electricity cut and water and gas systems were seriously affected. Agriculture in the area was severely affected with hundreds of hectares of banana plantations destroyed by the winds, root plantations damaged and fruit trees stripped of their fruit. The best tobacco plantations also suffered extensive destruction.

ACT member in Cuba the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC) is proposing to support the affected families in the most affected municipalities of Havana Province :Alquízar, Güira de Melena, Caimito and Bauta. They are proposing to support the most vulnerable affected population such as female headed families, children, the elderly, the poor and destitute, the chronically sick and handicapped persons, through:

• Distribution of basic household items
• Distribution of housing reconstruction materials
• Accompaniment by the local churches

Project Completion Date:

31 March 2005

Total Appeal Target(s): 231,000

Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 0

Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 231,000

Signed by:
Thor-Arne Prois
Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office