From our Bureau of Socialist Social Justice with some assistance from our Bureau of Socialist Disaster Relief
No surprise here. Cubans whose dwellings were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Oscar two months ago are reporting that the relief promised to them by Castro, Inc. has not yet arrived and will probably never materialize. In addition to selling mattresses and other supplies at high prices, some of the goods intended for the victims have been stolen by government officials and others involved in the relief effort.
Vamos bien! Socialist social justice at work.
Loosely translated from Periodico Cubano
In response to the theft of aid intended for families affected by Hurricane Oscar in the eastern part of the island, the citizen organization “Huellas” has issued a strong call to the Cuban authorities to ensure that aid designated for victims reaches those who have suffered total or partial losses.
The situation in Guantánamo, particularly in areas such as San Antonio del Sur, Macambo, Yacabo, Imías, Baracoa, and Maisí, is described as alarming, with thousands of families living in extreme vulnerability, according to a Facebook post by activist Johanna Jolá Álvarez.
Guantánamo residents have used social media to expose irregularities, including the diversion of resources and the sale of donated mattresses at inexplicably varied prices despite being the same size. These accounts have sparked deep frustration among a population that finds no answers or concrete solutions from the authorities.
During a visit to San Antonio del Sur, the team documented cases of negligence that have outraged the population. Among their findings was the accumulation of over 20 new mattresses and a pile of unused sheets that had been stored for over eight months outside government offices while vulnerable families desperately waited for aid that never arrived.
Representatives of the organization also documented heartbreaking cases, such as that of a blind elderly woman in La Paloma who is in a state of total abandonment. This is just one example among thousands of painful stories of neglect in Guantánamo. The most affected include single mothers with young children, the elderly, and people with special needs, who should be prioritized in relief efforts.
The organization questions the role of institutions like the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of the Interior (Minint), and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in ensuring transparency and the proper management of donations. According to Huellas, the lack of action and effective response reflects a system that seems more focused on silencing complaints than addressing the needs of the victims.
The current situation is reminiscent of what happened in Pinar del Río after Hurricane Ian, where reports surfaced of diverted donations intended for those who suffered total collapses. Two years later, many affected families continue living in deteriorated tents, with no prospects for a definitive solution.
Aware of the challenges, Huellas has begun its own direct aid efforts, distributing donations to the most affected families and delivering a message of solidarity and hope.