Havana, November 13, 2024 (PAHO) - In partnership with other United Nations agencies, funds, and programs, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has actively joined the response and recovery efforts in Guantánamo, Cuba, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Oscar.
Two of four flights funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office (ECHO) will deliver over four tons of essential supplies, including medical and trauma care materials, as well as personal protective equipment, to the regions most affected by the disaster.
The first flight arrived in Santiago de Cuba on 10 November, carrying emergency health kits (IEHK 2017) that will provide care to over 20,000 people for three months. These kits include essential medicines, disposable supplies, and personal protective equipment, such as face shields and surgical gloves. Medicines include anesthetics, analgesics, antihistamines, anticonvulsants, antiseptics, medicines for respiratory conditions, and vitamins, among others.
The first shipment also included 28 trauma treatment backpacks and 32 rolls of durable, waterproof tarpaulins, which will be crucial for field operations and safeguarding supplies in storage areas.
On November 13, the fourth and final flight is expected to arrive, carrying a kit (NCDK 2016) with medicines to treat non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, heart conditions and type 2 diabetes. Also included are other essential medicines, disposable medical supplies and equipment to provide primary care for 10,000 people for three months.
These shipments are part of the United Nations System Plan of Action in Cuba. The health supplies are sourced from PAHO's Jerónimo Venegas Regional Strategic Stockpile, housed in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot Network in Panama. This reserve is a critical resource, enabling the swift and efficient delivery of medical supplies and other essential items in response to health emergencies and disasters across Latin America and the Caribbean
Hurricane Oscar claimed the lives of eight people and left many others injured. Over 40 healthcare facilities were damaged, and the destruction of critical infrastructure, including water supply systems, has heightened the risk of disease outbreaks. The situation is further compounded by the recent impact of Hurricane Rafael in the western part of the country, as well as earthquakes in the east and the ongoing energy crisis.
PAHO/WHO is part of a coordinated response led by the United Nations System and the European Union to support Cuba's recovery efforts following Hurricane Oscar. In addition to medical supplies, the shipments include critical materials such as water storage tanks, hygiene kits, tools, and protective equipment, all aimed at improving living conditions and enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene in the hardest-hit areas. These collaborative efforts, involving agencies like UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, are focused on addressing the urgent needs of approximately half a million people in Guantánamo province.
PAHO/WHO continues to work closely with national authorities and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health to ensure timely and coordinated technical cooperation in line with the priorities established by the Cuban government.
