Santiago de Cuba. October 27, 2024
Dear Friends,
“The Lord has brought relief to the people and will have compassion of those that suffer”.Isaiah 49:13 PDT.
The timely help that you have offered especially in difficult times of our people stimulates us to let you know of this new situation that is being suffered in the Guantánamo region, especially the municipalities of Maisí, Imías and San Antonio del Sur.
Once more the natural forces and the insufficient perception of risk makes the population suffer the consequences in a manner very difficult to describe. Facts reported by those that suffer allow us to know: affectations are multiple and diverse in intensity, depending on the zone, particular conditions of life and construction of houses of each family, and others related to the meteorological phenomenon itself.
Up to date according to reports of our beneficiaries we can say that:
There is damage in at least several hundred houses (partial or total) and in places where animals are protected, small businesses.
There is loss of plants, in most cases all that had been planted for the season (more than 320 mm. of rain in 3 hours), loss of fruit trees and forests.
Death of animals (fowl, pigs, cows) that mean the nutrition of families as much as products to be commercialized (100% of animals of our proyects).
Destruction of schools, drug stores and other basic structures. Destruction of roads making access to places damaged very difficult.
Important psychological damage (ansiety, depression, post trauma stress) infront of loss of human lives and personal belongings.
Loss of biodiversity and super saturated earth.
We are putting together several donations that include clothing, shoes, basic food, etc., and a team of the Center travels to Baracoa to evaluate the situation and define details of further assistance. This team includes some professionals of Psychology, with previous experience in situations of this type.
We greatly appreciate expressions of Christian solidarity that you have given and the Lord´s presence that sustains us in hope in this dark hour.
In the Name of all the Center Staff,
Dra. Heidi Amelia Lavastida Pérez