10 November 2025

Cuba’s government has described as “positive” its cooperation with the Catholic Church in relation to the delivery of US$3mn in US post-hurricane humanitarian assistance. Its comments follow an agreement that the Church would coordinate US aid intended for Cubans in the island’s eastern provinces.

Writing on social media, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX) which coordinates all aid provided to Cuba, noted that other US support from the Archdiocese of Miami would also flow through the Catholic Church on the island. Many other nations are sending support but on an unconditional basis following the extensive damage caused when Hurricane Melissa struck the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo on 29 October (Cuba Briefing 3 November 2025).

“We have a positive experience of years of cooperation linked to the humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in Cuba, which has materialised successfully in full coordination with our authorities and in accordance with the requirements that are adjusted to the assessment of damages and most urgent needs,” MINCEX emphasised in a statement. “These humanitarian gestures are appreciated” it added, “as is the case with aid from various parts of the world, including that from other religious organisations in the US.”

The Ministry also noted that government and local authorities “are working to channel the contribution in the fastest and most efficient way, so that it reaches the populations and territories in need as soon as possible.”

Its comments follow a formal announcement on 31 October that Washington was prepared to provide “immediate humanitarian assistance directly and via local partners who can most effectively deliver it to those in need,” and a press statement noting that a Declaration of Humanitarian Assistance for Cuba had been issued.

The US State Department said in the press statement that in the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation of Eastern Cuba, “the Trump Administration stands with the brave Cuban people who continue to struggle to meet basic needs.” It also noted that “US law includes exemptions and authorisations relating to private donations of food, medicine, and other humanitarian goods to Cuba, as well as disaster response.”

A day earlier the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that the US was prepared to provide immediate humanitarian assistance via local partners able to effectively deliver to those in need. The US had earlier omitted Cuba from the list of nations in the Caribbean that Rubio, a Cuban American, said the US was in “close contact with” about post-hurricane relief.

Earlier when uncertainty prevailed, and before agreement with the Catholic Church in Cuba had been reached, President Díaz-Canel had written on social media that “Cuba is open and grateful for any kind of help to our people, as long as it is honest and within the framework of respect for regulations and national sovereignty.”

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) first reported on 2 November that together with Caritas Cuba, which is linked to the Catholic churches’ international aid agency, that the church in Cuba was taking the “necessary steps” to coordinate the distribution of humanitarian aid offered by the US government for those affected in the eastern provinces by Hurricane Melissa. It also noted that it was “holding useful and positive conversations with all parties” so that the assistance could become a “reality.”

In a related statement, the COCC, after noting its calling to “serve in charity all, especially the poorest and most needy,” wrote that “in the new circumstances that history brings us,” it had received a “humanitarian offer from the United States Administration, channelled through Catholic Church institutions in that country, to directly assist those affected by Hurricane Melissa, with US$3mn in resources.”

Post Hurricane recovery underway
Hurricane relief work underway but full recovery likely to be prolonged. The Cuban government is working to address the extensive damage caused to four of its eastern provinces following the passage of Hurricane Melissa across the island on 29 October (Cuba Briefing 3 November 2025). Visits to the most affected regions of the provinces by President Díaz-Canel, the Organisation Secretary of Cuba’s Communist Party, Roberto Morales, and provincial leaders, made clear that the most severe damage occurred in the province of Santiago de Cuba, while “unfavorable conditions” persist in regions of Granma due to extensive flooding.

Addressing Cuba’s National Defence Council Cuba’s President stressed the need to quantify the damage and to work intensively on sanitation, the rehabilitation of water and electricity services, and to plant short-cycle crops. He also emphasised the need to prioritise the distribution of donations to the most affected areas. In doing so he warned that the extent of the damage to homes, infrastructure and crops in the eastern region meant that full recovery would be prolonged. Observing that the recovery phase is the most difficult, he said that it is understandable that people despair due to the lack of electricity, water, and other resources to begin repairing their homes.

According to preliminary estimates produced by the United Nations, nearly 2.2mn people in the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Guantánamo “have been severely impacted with critical damage to housing, basic services, communications, livelihoods, and threats to food security.” Launching a recovery plan on 5 November, the UN said that it is seeking to raise US$74.2mn to support response and recovery efforts and restore essential services. Describing the magnitude of the damage as “profound,” the UN noted that “Cuba is excluded from major international financial institutions and has extremely restricted access to funding sources for both disaster response and the economic and social recovery of affected communities.”

The UN report based on provisional data indicates damage to some 60,000 homes, 461 medical centers, 1,552 schools, more than 78,700 hectares of crops, with 75% of mobile telephony and up to 90% of telecommunications masts in the four provinces, along with fibre optic networks out of service. It describes Cuba’s already weak energy supply system in the eastern region as having been “compromised” by the storm and facing multiple distribution problems.

Hotels in eastern provinces reopen. Cuba’s Tourist Board has said that “significant progress” has been made in preparing hotels and visitor related facilities across the eastern part of the island following the passage of Hurricane Melissa. A press release noted that hotels largely suffered “cosmetic damage,” and operations are gradually resuming. It noted that the Gran Muthu Almirante hotel in Banes in Holguin has been operational since 30 October; tourist areas in Guardalavaca and Pesquero in Holguin are expected to reopen by 5 November and be fully ready for guests; the Frank País International Airport in Holguín is operational; and the Antonio Maceo International Airport in Santiago de Cuba is able to offer basic services.

Epidemiological surveillance intensified. Cuba’s Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) and Cuba’s Communist Party are intensifying epidemiological surveillance and the public health related response in the eastern provinces hit by Hurricane Melissa. The Ministry said that it is increasing the deployment of medical brigades, the distribution of essential supplies and the activation of protocols against the possible spread of disease. The programmes give priority to the most vulnerable and to restoring basic health services. Cuba continues to experience the spread of mosquito borne arboviruses nationally.

Cauto del Paso dam no longer posing a danger. It has been confirmed that the Cauto del Paso dam in Granma province which was having to release water into already flooded areas following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, has significantly reduced the volume of water it must release. The current outflow has been lowered from 4,000 cubic meters per second experienced at the most critical moments to 1,200 cubic meters per second. The dam, crucial for agricultural production in the Cauto Valley and the protection of nearby communities, no longer represents a danger. According to the Cuban News Agency (ACN) the flow of rivers and tributaries in the watershed is now in a more favorable condition.

Damage to railway severe. Cuba’s Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez, has said that Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to the railway in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba. There the economically vital Central Line saw some of its underpinning swept away affecting both tracks leaving several sections suspended in mid-air. It also caused damage to branch lines and serious problems on the Bayamo line where a length of embankment collapsed.

Subsidies on construction materials. Cuba’s Council of Ministers has approved a measure that will see families whose homes were totally or partially affected by Hurricane Melissa, receive 50% of the sale price of construction materials at current prices needed for repairs. The new measure also allows for bank loans and subsidies for those with insufficient income in the provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Las Tunas.

IN BRIEF
Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has airlifted twenty-six tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba including medical supplies, non-perishable food, and materials for the reconstruction of homes and institutions.

Colombia. Colombia has shipped 246 tons of food, hygiene products, mosquito nets, milk, water, and fuel to Cuba to support recovery following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

UNDP. Some 2,000 roofing sheets have been sent to the province of Granma as part of an early response by the United Nations System in Cuba (UNDP Cuba). The shipment is part of a batch of 6,000. The UN also reported that a shipment of essential medical supplies able to support the over 90,000 people displaced by the storm have been airlifted to Havana.

International support. Numerous nations and agencies have sent aid to Cuba. They include India, China, the EU, Qatar, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Switzerland, The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, the International Federation of Red Cross, solidarity organisations internationally, and diaspora groupings are also reported to be contributing funds and other forms of support.

10 November 2025, Issue 1301

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