Here is a message from my contact at the Canadian Red Cross regarding donating money
for relief work in Cuba:
The news on the money is that you can designate money specifically to CUBA.
Generally our Hurricane Relief campaign will be just that. The need is so great in so many places
the campaign is a general one for Hurricane Relief.
However, with groups wishing to send money to a specific country (and there have been a few
already) we can accept donations made payable to Canadian Red Cross earmarked for "Cuba
Relief". If shouldn't say anything else.
*************
And a recent article on Cuba and Ivan from the Red Cross:
Cuba prepares itself for the worst
11 September 2004
by Manuel Rodriguez and Cristina Estrada
"In fifty years we haven’t seen a hurricane like this" says Jose Luis Pedraza, Cuban Red
Cross relief director, referring to Hurricane Ivan. "Here in Cuba we call it 'Ivan el
Terrible'".
With winds higher than 300 km per hour, category five hurricane Ivan is expected to hit
the island in the morning between Sunday and Monday, after leaving 27 persons dead,
causing severe damage to 85% of the buildings in Grenada and costly damages in
Jamaica.
As part of their emergency preparedness, Cuban authorities, supported by more than
9,000 Red Cross volunteers, have evacuated more than 170,000 people. Eight provinces,
out of fourteen, are under maximum alert. Population in Cuba is well prepared and has all
the information needed to reduce the impact of the hurricane.
Just less than one month ago, only five people died when category four Hurricane
Charley passed over Cuba, showing how seriously Cubans take emergency response
procedures. Charley caused one thousand million dollars of losses and an estimated
70,000 houses were severely affected in the island.
“In the emergency shelters Red Cross volunteers are providing psychological support,
health assistance and helping with the distribution of food” informs Pedraza. “In addition,
all search and rescue Red Cross teams have been activated and ready to intervene”.
The International Federation has launched a preliminary Appeal of 1.39 millions of
American dollar, in addition to the 300.000 Swiss francs from the Disaster emergency
Fund released. These will be used to provide assistant to 10,000 persons affected by
hurricane Ivan on its way through the Caribbean.
“Unlike Charley, hurricane Ivan is bringing lot of water that can cause severe flooding
and it’s much bigger, since has a diameter of up to 500 km, with winds of more than 300
km per hour” explains Pedraza.
In the last nine years Cuba has suffered directly the effects of hurricanes Lili, Georges
Michelle, Isidore and Charley, in addition to tropical storm Irene. Although these
hurricanes were destructive, the implementation of a set of well-organized emergency
procedures ensured rapid and orderly evacuations from high-risk areas, reducing the
deadly impact.
The International Federation is coordinating with Red Cross National Societies affected
preparation, response and rehabilitation activities, and sending relief aid.
In Jamaica a Disaster Management Delegate and an Information delegate have been
deployed.
In Grenada two disaster management specialists a member of a field, assessment and
coordination team (FACT) are working together with the Grenada Red Cross. For Cuba a
team formed by an information delegate, a water and sanitation delegate and a volunteer
from Ericsson Response are already in place.
**********
And these brief articles on Cuba just in from Amistad:
Cuban President Fidel Castro in Western Pinar del Rio awaiting Hurricane Ivan
Havana, September 13 (RHC)-Cuban President Fidel Castro visited the western province
of Pinar del Rio Monday and saw first hand the measures taken in that region to face
Hurricane Ivan.
The Cuban President examined the preventive measures as Hurricane Ivan approached
this part of the island. The weather in Pinar del Rio began to deteriorate in the early hours
of Monday with heavy rains and winds.
Radio Havana Cuba's reporter in Pinar del Rio Carlos Rafael Dieguez said that President
Fidel Castro once again stayed alongside the people of this region to face Hurricane Ivan
as it crossed the Yucatan Penninsula.
The Cuban President remained in Pinar del Rio and inspected the hydraulic system,
health, evacuation situations and the distribution of food in the province.
Hurricane Ivan Continues to be a Threat to the Western Part of the Island
Havana, September 13 (RHC)-Hurricane Ivan continues to threaten the western part of
Cuba despite its west, northwest movement away from the island.
Ivan will bring heavy rain to the western provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana, the city of
Havana and the Isle of Youth causing coastal flooding, according to Dr. Jose Rubiera,
head of the island's National Weather Center.
Speaking on Sunday night's TV round table discussion, Rubiera said that despite
predictions that the hurricane would pass by the tip of Pinar del Rio or the Yucatan
peninsula, the island should continue prepared in case of any change. He added that the
population must continue alert to high winds, heavy and prolonged rain and coastal
flooding.
Over one million 300 thousand people were evacuated of which some 282 thousand were
housed in shelters and boarding schools and the rest in friends and neighbors' homes,
according to Luis Angel Macareno from the National Civil Defense Center who praised
the solidarity of the population.
Macareno reiterated the importance of maintaining discipline to avoid any loss of human
lives, stressing that only the cooperation of the people and the strict observance of the
instructions of the Civil Defense Authorities could help prevent casualties or deaths.
Hurricane Winds Destroy Homes and Hotels in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba, September 13 (RHC)-Hurricane Ivan caused considerable damage to
over 500 homes, hotels and roads on coastal areas in the eastern province of Santiago de
Cuba.
According to local authorities most of the damage was caused by high waves and winds
that struck the coast although there were reports of mud slides in different areas close to
the Sierra Maestra Mountains.
The high winds and waves destroyed the Bucanero, Los Corales, Costa Morena and Villa
Colibri hotels all located in the Baconao and SierraMar National Park in Santiago de
Cuba province.
Radio Havana Cuba Receives International Messages of Solidarity in Face of
Hurricane Ivan
Havana, September 13 (RHC)-Radio Havana Cuba received numerous solidarity
messages from abroad as Hurricane Ivan approached the western part of the island.
Many of the messages outlined the courage of the Cuban people and praised the Cuban
President Fidel Castro for prioritizing the value of human lives above all other
considerations.
The Executive Committee of the Professional Journalists Association in the Dominican
Republic expressed their conviction that the Cuban people and government would
overcome any damages inflicted by the dangerous hurricane.
Friends from Argentina expressed their willingness to send aid to Cuba to help recover
from any damage inflicted by the Category 5 hurricane.
In an email to Radio Havana Cuba, Dominican solidarity activist Anselmo Liberato
outlined the human nature of the Revolution with its priority of saving lives and
reaffirmed his solidarity and respect with the Cuban people.
Cuban Delegation on a Working Visit in Vietnam
Hanoi, September 13 (RHC)-A delegation of Cuba's Chamber of Commerce led by its
General Secretary Frank Abel Protela arrived in Hanoi on Monday for a working visit.
The Cuban delegation was welcomed at the Noi Bai International Airport by leaders of
Vietnam's Chamber of Commerce and Economic and Commercial Counsellor of Cuba's
Embassy in Hanoi, Oscar Quintero.
The delegation will participate in the 22nd session of the Cuba-Vietnam InterGovernmental Commission on Tuesday which will be headed by Government Minister
Ricardo Cabrisas.
Cabrisas met with Vietnamese authorities in Ho Chi Minh City and also visited the
Chinese city of Xiamen.