IFRC Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Santiago de Cuba

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has dispatched a shipment of 20 tons of essential supplies to Santiago de Cuba, destined for families in eastern Cuba affected by Hurricane Melissa, as reported by Cubaminrex.

Originating from Tocumen International Airport in Panama, the shipment included kitchen, hygiene, and resting kits, blankets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, tools, and plastic tarps, with the capacity to assist approximately 1,500 people.

The Cuban Red Cross will assume the distribution of the resources in the communities hardest hit by the storm, with the purpose of guaranteeing basic health, food, and temporary shelter conditions.

Among the items, the hygiene kits stand out, containing soap, toothbrushes, shampoo, menstrual hygiene products, towels, and toilet paper, which are fundamental for preserving health in contexts of limited sanitation.

The resting kits provide sheets and pillows to improve stays in shelters, while the tools will facilitate cleanup and reconstruction work. The kitchen kits provide utensils for preparing food for five people.

Marianna Kuttothara, IFRC Head of Health, Disasters, and Crisis for the Americas, stated that “just three days after Hurricane Melissa passed, the humanitarian aid was ready for shipment and will now be distributed with humanity and commitment to those who need it most.”

The shipment was made possible thanks to the IFRC's Humanitarian Hub in Panama, where essential supplies are stored to assist 20,000 people within a 48 to 72-hour window following a disaster.

In addition to this immediate operation, the organization launched an emergency appeal to raise 15 million Swiss francs (approximately 18 million US dollars), aiming to assist 100,000 people in Cuba over the next two years.

The strategy combines the distribution of essential items with early recovery actions and long-term resilience, focused on rebuilding homes, re-establishing access to potable water, and recovering the health and livelihoods of the communities.