ReliefWeb

This report is produced by the Office of the Resident Coordinator. It covers the period from 14:00 hrs. on September 013 th to 12:00 hrs. on September 14 th .The next report will be issued on or around 15/09

Highlights

• President Raul Castro Ruz, led a meeting with the National Defense Council. The highest government officials traveled through territories and economic enclaves most affected by Hurricane Irma.

• Preliminary data estimates that 60,500 dwellings were affected, including total or partial collapses and partial or total loss of roofs.

• A significant number of communities remain without electricity and water supply. The government continues working hard on recovering the electric power service in the 13 affected provinces.
  Matanzas, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara and Ciego de Ávila Provinces, with 2.3 million inhabitants, report the most significant energy system problems.

• Strong winds and coastal inundation has beaten the Havana health sector: 25 hospitals, 32 polyclinics and 19 clinics at the community level have been affected.

• Severe damage to the communications system has been reported. More than 190,000 fixed telephone and data transmission services were impacted. This does not include impacts to mobile telephone services. At least 30 days are required to complete the rehabilitation of these services.

+ 64,000 houses damaged

+ 190,000 fixed telephone and data transmission services were impacted

+ 70% of health institutions damaged in the affected zones

Situation overview

National authorities are closely monitoring the damage and recovery efforts, with an emphasis on providing care to affected people with damage to their dwellings or in areas that still remain isolated.
The Cuban post company (Grupo Empresarial Correos de Cuba) announced that steps have been taken to prioritize payments for social security and assistance. They also announce their priority to expedite the sending of money orders and telegrams to or from affected areas.

A significant number of communities in the eastern, central and western parts of the island, lack electricity and are also affected by damage throughout the telecommunications and radio and television systems.

Granma Newspaper, the main newspaper with a national reach, increased its edition last Tuesday, with 500,000 copies, in order to bring updated information to the population, principally in the central and eastern areas of the island.

Working teams and specialists from the National Electricity Company (Unión Electrica)are raising electric power poles and installing transformers in the 13 affected provinces. Telecommunications brigades are also responsible for restoring telephone and data services. They have joined groups from other provinces, which have previous experience recovering from damage caused by Hurricanes Sandy (2012) and Matthew (2016).

Closely related to the recovery of the electric power system is that of the public water supply. Water is currently being supplied to the population via tanker trucks, and in some areas generators have been connected to facilitate the operation of pumping equipment and the extraction of water from wells. In these communities, food processing centers have been established, which are supplied free of charge at evacuation centers, and sell to the population at subsidized prices.

The collection of debris, branches and tree trunks continues around major avenues, roads, streets, sidewalks and squares throughout most of the country, including the capital city. These recovery actions involve more than 12,000 soldiers and citizens from the affected areas of the country as well as workers from different organizations.

On Tuesday, the Government of Panama sent three airplanes to Havana with around 2,180 kilograms of hygiene items, sheets and food, among other products. A vessel with five containers of rice, oil and other food left Port of Mariel yesterday. Next week, 15 other containers will arrive at the Port of Santiago de Cuba in the east of the country, containing mattresses, sheets, hygiene and kitchen items, blankets, food, wood, light fixtures, water cans and other necessities.