Cuba’s permanent representative to the UN, Ernesto Soberón, thanked the organisation for its support after the scourge of hurricanes Oscar and Rafael and the recent earthquakes that affected the small island country. In a publication on the social network X, the representative expressed his gratitude to the Office of the United Nations resident coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichón, as well as to the heads of the agencies based in the largest of the Antilles.

He also welcomed the expressions of solidarity and support from diplomats from various countries to the United Nations. After the scourge of Hurricane Oscar, the UN Office in Cuba announced a response plan estimated at 33 million dollars for the municipalities most affected by the phenomenon, which remained over the provinces of the Far East for about 25 hours.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator in Cuba, the appeal focuses on six vital sectors: water, sanitation and hygiene; temporary shelters, housing and early recovery; education; logistics; health; and food security and nutrition. The plan will support efforts to meet the urgent needs of the most affected people, reactivate the vitality of basic services and move towards the recovery of the territories and the livelihoods of their inhabitants.

Following Oscar’s devastating passage through the east, Cuba’s far west was hit by Hurricane Rafael last week, while last Sunday a strong earthquake with dozens of aftershocks was reported in Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Holguín, provinces located in the east of the island.