UN interagency mission exchanged with Provincial Defense Council in Holguín

Photos. By the author

A meeting between an interagency delegation from international organizations and the Provincial Defense Council of Holguín was held in this Cuban city, with the aim to coordinate recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa.

During this encounter, the participants assessed the damage caused by the storm and defined joint actions to support the affected communities.

The mission included representatives from UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and received backing from the European Union’s humanitarian office, ECHO. Their work focuses on the UN’s Action Plan, which seeks to address the most urgent needs of families and essential services impacted by the disaster.

This plan covers 33 municipalities across the four provinces most affected by the hurricane. In Holguín, 12 municipalities will be prioritized, including Urbano Noris, Cacocum, Cueto, and Sagua de Tánamo, which suffered the most severe impacts.

The meeting, chaired by Joel Queipo Ruiz and Manuel Hernández Aguilera, presented a detailed report on the damage. The housing sector suffered the worst destruction, with 20,200 homes affected—926 completely destroyed and over 1,200 with total roof loss. Despite the magnitude of the disaster, 58 homes out of more than 14,000 with partial roof damage have already been repaired.

In agriculture, 22,000 hectares were reported damaged, posing a major challenge to local food production and the economy. Additionally, 15 dams and one diversion structure are overflowing due to intense rainfall, requiring urgent measures to manage water infrastructure and prevent further risks.

European Union representative Noel Samson announced the delivery of varied humanitarian supplies, while WFP’s Rolando Verde Sánchez outlined support actions such as distributing basic foods—rice and peas—and providing logistical equipment, including lighting towers and mobile warehouses to protect supplies.

Finally, the mission highlighted the quick and effective response of local authorities to the emergency. Sergio Novás Tejero, from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), praised the coordination and dedication of the Provincial Defense Council, emphasizing that teamwork is essential to accelerate recovery and strengthen the resilience of affected communities.