October 13, 2022
UN Unveils Action Plan to Support Cuba’s Recovery from Hurricane IanThe United Nations presented this Wednesday an action plan for 42 million dollars to support the Cuban authorities to meet the needs of people affected by Hurricane Ian, which affected the west of the country, especially the province of Pinar del Rio, at the end of September.
The Secretary General’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, informed at a press conference that the initiative should benefit almost 800,000 people and includes 3.7 million dollars reallocated from the UN team funding, as well as an additional 7.8 million dollars from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.
Dujarric said the plan supports immediate response efforts and long-term recovery needs in sectors such as housing, health, education, food security and access to clean water and electricity.
Ian reached Cuba as a category three on the Saffir-Simpson scale in the early hours of September 27, with rain and winds of more than 200 kilometers per hour. In its path, it caused considerable damage to housing infrastructure, energy supply, telecommunications and agriculture, among other sectors.
The UN team in Cuba, led by resident coordinator Consuelo Vidal-Bruce, is supporting the national authorities, António Guterres’ spokesman had said earlier.
Dujarric added that the Pan American Health Organization donated more than eight tons of sanitary material and medicines, which were distributed in the areas most affected by the cyclone.
Cuba is coordinating actions with international organizations to face the disaster left by Ian, especially in the western province of Pinar del Río, while it is advancing in the recovery efforts with its own efforts and the support of other nations.
Cuba is grateful for the support of the United Nations
In a message on Twitter, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla thanked on behalf of the Cuban people and government for the cooperation of the United Nations in the process of recovery from the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in Cuba.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Cuba, we are grateful for the valuable support of the United Nations System to our recovery from Hurricane Ian. Their contribution will benefit many affected families,” wrote the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Cuba en Resumen