The module consists of 500 tiles, nails, pieces of wood, cement, sand, and they are distributed in the areas of the center of the city of Baracoa, to offer temporary facilities for all those people who lost their houses and goods.

During the welcome ceremony, Milagro Rodríguez, counselor of the Venezuelan Embassy in Cuba, speaking on behalf of President Nicolás Maduro, noted the affection and fraternity expressed through 327 tons of equipment and various materials that will contribute to restoring damaged areas.

She thanked ship Captain Leonardo Castellanos, and stressed that no natural event or otherwise would destroy the ties of solidarity between the Cuban and Venezuelan peoples.

(Granma)

The President of the National Defense Council was accompanied by Army Corps General Ramón Espinosa Martín, deputy minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, who is currently based in the most affected areas together with other national and local leaders, overseeing the measures implemented in the recovery stage.

Denny Legrá Azahares, president of the Guantánamo Provincial Defense Council, informed the Army General of the major damages caused and the actions currently underway.

He noted that it is estimated that over 90% of homes in the area were severely damaged, as well as the majority of state facilities. Vital services for the population, such as communications, electricity and water supply, were also severely affected.

During the meeting, the negative impact of the atmospheric phenomenon on access routes to this municipality and on agriculture, mainly coffee plantations (Maisí is the largest coffee producer in the country), were also discussed.

Given this situation, Raúl emphasized the urgency of seeking alternatives to ensure the people are provided with necessary resources. Likewise, he stressed the importance of recording all the experience gained from the passage of this weather event, to be used in future scenarios.

The Army General participated in the meeting during which Lina Pedraza Rodríguez, minister of Finances and Prices, informed the presidents of the eight people’s councils in this municipality on how to implement the sale of construction materials to those whose homes had been affected. Photo: Estudio Revolución
The President of the National Defense Council also participated in the meeting which took place at the municipal Party headquarters, where Lina Pedraza Rodríguez, minister of Finances and Prices, informed the presidents of the eight people’s councils in this municipality on how to implement the decision of the revolutionary government as regards the sale of construction materials to those whose homes had been affected.

“You received a heavy blow, but we will recover,” Raúl assured as he shook hands and received embraces. Meanwhile, the people expressed their thanks over and over again to Fidel and Raúl himself for their constant support.

“This visit strengthens us, it encourages us to keep going,” stated Erodis Fuente López, who offered his home to shelter almost 40 people.

“Trust in us that we will succeed! The most important thing is that we are alive! Send our greetings to the Comandante! Take care!” These some of the messages expressed by the population as Raúl toured the area. Meanwhile, the Cuban President thanked those gathered for their continued resistance and called on them to return to their normal daily activities as soon as possible, in particular the resumption of classes, which he reiterated could take place in any adequate space.

Again there were scenes of emotion and hope as those gathered offered and received advice, anecdotes, and took photos alongside their President.

“I congratulate you because you are courageous, composed and very revolutionary. I’m proud of Cuban women and men across the country, but above all of you, because this has been a very tough test,” Raúl stated in response to the excited cheers of residents.

(Granma)

The reporter stated that the preparation and transportation of food to evacuation centers has been ensured. However, “new facilities to produce other supplies are needed, as the existing ones collapsed.” Meanwhile a series of generators will be made available to support the handling of meats, she added.

Brigades of electricians from Las Tunas, Camagüey and Guantánamo, as well as other provinces, are set to join recovery efforts in Baracoa, while earth-moving teams from Villa Clara and Gramna are active on the La Farola highway.

Alba Cobas also reported that five brigades are working simultaneously to clear roads and remove debris, noting that authorities have already begun to demolish unsalvageable dwellings.

The bridge over the River Toa is one of many structures affected by the hurricane, with only 50 of the 200 foot construction remaining, noted the reporter.

(Granma)

With maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h, placing it in category four on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, the powerful storm struck the Haitian city of Anglais at around 7am (local time), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Before making landfall in Haiti, Matthew had already caused floods in 11 communities, reported Edgar Celestin, the country’s Civil Protection spokesman speaking to AFP.

Waters inundated the national highway in Anglais, while the hurricane also caused damage to precarious buildings.

Floods were also seen in Les Cayes, Haiti’s third largest city.

Marie-Alta Jean-Baptiste, director of Civil Protection reported the occurrence of landslides, noting that many people living in the most vulnerable areas refused to evacuate and leave their belongings behind.
These zones include extremely poor, densely populated neighborhoods such as Cite Soleil and Port-au-Prince’s Cite L’Eternel, on the coast.

A total of 648 Cuban collaborators are currently offering services in Haiti, including doctors and processionals participating on other missions. “All are perfectly well,” stated Dr. Lorenzo Mojena, head of the Cuban medical brigade in that country, speaking with Granma International via telephone. “The hurricane forecasts were correct, with strong rains, winds, and extensive flooding,” stated Mojena at about 6pm, on October 4, when the country was still experiencing the full force of the storm.

Dr. Mojena reiterated that the most severely affected area was the country’s southern region, home to remote communities and deteriorated infrastructure marked by the fallen buildings, collapsed bridges and communication pylons, placing the Haitian people once again in a critical situation.

He explained that the Cuban Embassy had set-up a command center to ensure the safety of collaborators and the functioning of the brigade and other government initiatives in the country. He expressed his gratitude for the close communication maintained with authorities from the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.

“We are 100% willing to work on epidemiological control and prevention efforts, and are set to see a difficult situation, as the rains have complicated the country’s healthcare system,” highlighted the head of Cuba’s medical brigade.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring Dominican Republic, the Emergency Operations Center (COE) reported at least four dead and 8,546 persons evacuated in Santo Domingo and provinces bordering Haiti.

Intense rains and floods were reported in the capital of Santo Domingo, where educational authorities suspended classes until Wednesday, October 5, in 24 of the country’s 32 provinces, as a preventative measure.

Hurricane Matthew also hit Jamaica, where the National Army and military reserves helped with emergency efforts, while buses were sent to evacuate people living in the most vulnerable areas.

Granma International also established contact with this Caribbean nation, where 209 collaborators are currently offering their services. According to Dr. Héctor Mustelier, head of the island’s medical brigade in Jamaica, recovery efforts have increased as the rains have subsided.
He noted that the Cuban healthcare professionals are fine and have responded to the call by the country’s health authorities to aid in recovery efforts. Mustelier also pointed out that on October 5, all brigade members returned to their normal activities in the institutions where they work.

“Now, the most important thing is health promotion and prevention to avoid the spread of diseases following the rains,” he noted.

After hitting Cuba, the hurricane is forecast to make its way north-west toward the Bahamas, passing close by Florida’s east coast (where a state of emergency has been declared) in the United States, later in the week.

“We haven’t felt the onslaught yet, but necessary measures have already been taken to protect collaborators in the Bahamas,” stated Dr. Tomás Reinoso, head of the Cuban medical brigade in that country, speaking to Granma International.

Commenting on actions undertaken, he noted that sufficient supplies and water have been stored for the duration of the storm; work timetables have been modified with emergency or regular service collaborators only working in healthcare facilities, all the while protected within these buildings.

Dr. Reinoso also highlighted the close and frequent communication maintained with the Central Unit for Medical Collaboration (UCCM) in Cuba and the island’s Ministry of Pubic Health, which has also taken on the task of contacting the families of brigade members to keep them up-dated on the welfare of collaborators – a total of 114 based in the country.

“Measures have been taken,” noted the brigade director, adding that Matthew is scheduled to hit the island with devastating force, according to news reports. Dr. Reinoso explained that it has been a long time since a hurricane of this magnitude has hit the Bahamas and could potentially be the strongest of the decade.

At press time Granma International also contacted Dr. Regla Angulo Pardo, director of the UCCM, who confirmed that once the Hurricane watch had been issued, work began to identify countries that would be affected in the Caribbean, and where Cuban collaborators are working: Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
“The Ministry of Public Health’s main office, with which the UCCM is affiliated, was activated, and as such close communication has been maintained every six hours with the heads of the medical brigades through reports and telephone calls, in order to verify that all protection measures are being carried out,” she highlighted.

The director of the UCCM noted that every single collaborator has been contacted, all of whom have water, food and fuel reserves for a minimum of 10 days, as well as other supplies such as flashlights, candles, matches, and phone credit, in order to remain in contact.

“All collaborators are in safe places and those working alone have also been moved to these zones. They are also fully ready to attend any emergency and participate in recovery efforts in these countries,” she stated.
In order to reassure collaborators in regards to actions being undertaken in Cuba in light of Hurricane Matthew, the UCCM is making efforts to keep them up-dated on the impact of the storm in the east of the island.

(Granma)

Dr. José Rubiera, from the Institute of Meteorology’s Forecast Center, indicated that the storm should continue its trajectory to the north, with landfall on the island projected to take place tonight at some point along the southern coast of Guantánamo. By the end of the afternoon, winds of over 120 kilometers per hour will be felt in the province.

He emphasized that Matthew continues to be a hurricane of large dimensions, with an extensive area of heavy rainfall. Tropical storm force winds will be felt within a radius of 295 kilometers from the eye of the storm, while hurricane force winds will hit an area with a diameter of close to 110 kilometers.

This means that a large portion of the eastern region of the island will be at risk, Rubiera stressed, while noting that the storm could still move west.

At 8:00pm, Monday evening, the category 4 storm was located 370 kilometers south of Guantánamo, with sustained maximum winds of 220 kilometers per hour.

(Granma)

Accompanied by Lázaro Expósito Canto, president of the Provincial Defense Council, Raúl arrived in the neighborhood of Abel Santamaría, where the Photovoltaic Park Solar Energy Research Center is located, a facility which features a little over 10,000 solar panels, almost 9,000 of which were disassembled, while steps have been taken to ensure that those remaining are protected from strong winds.

In this regard, Raúl noted that much can be learned from every phenomenon, as each one is different.

Next, the Army General moved on to Santiago de Cuba’s military regional command, where he spoke with brigades composed of forestry experts.
There, command chief Colonel Ricardo Riger Tejeda, explained that brigades were created in every province after Hurricane Sandy hit the region. These units work to support prevention efforts and once the weather event is over, help with sanitation and recuperation around the city, he noted, also highlighting that brigades have the necessary equipment to carry out their tasks with speed and efficiency.

Later, the President of the Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers visited a facility belonging to the Ministry of the Interior where he talked with members of the Search and Rescue Detail and Fire Brigade, which have been reinforced by other MININT personnel.

While speaking to staff, Raúl recalled the participation of said groups during Hurricane Sandy and highlighted the importance of their work in these types of emergency situations.

Shortly afterward, the President of the National Defense Council made his way to the Mariana Grajales Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital where he was warmly received by the population and Health sector directors; who updated the Cuban President on the work of staff at the facility, the state of equipment, as well as steps taken to continue providing the institution’s complete range of services and save lives, since initial actions were announced ahead of Hurricane Matthew.

The Cuban President highlighted the work of the Provincial Defense Council, led by compañero Lázaro Expósito Canto and the support offered by deputy minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Army Corps General, Ramón Espinosa Martín.

After the hurricane has passed we will immediately begin work to recover from the damage Matthew may cause, stated Raúl.

(Granma)