From the very first moment thousands of refugees from the municipality of Río Cauto arrived in the province of Las Tunas, they received direct support from the local population and workers at the protection centers set up in Jobabo, Colombia, and Las Tunas.
Wilkenis Tamayo Ruiz, a member of the Provincial Secretariat of the Cuban Workers’ Central (CTC) in Las Tunas, recalls this and describes the swift response as an example of how unity and solidarity can make a significant difference in critical moments.
He explained that in response to the national CTC’s call for support for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in the eastern provinces, both state and private sector workers—as well as the general population—joined together to offer a gesture of solidarity to the residents of the severely impacted regions on October 29.
From the moment the refugees arrived, the union movement in the host territories promoted actions among its members and the local people to provide the necessary support, knowing that the severe flooding had destroyed nearly all of their household belongings and other property.
Now, as many of the affected begin to safely return to their places of origin, workers continue to show humanity and empathy toward their fellow citizens. For this reason, starting Tuesday, the union leadership is receiving donations at its provincial and municipal headquarters. “Under strict control, the aid is being sorted and will be sent in containers to the hardest-hit regions,” affirmed Tamayo Ruiz.
The donations include food, clothing, shoes, personal and collective hygiene products, school supplies for individual use and for libraries, among other items that are genuine expressions of humanity and respect for the most vulnerable.
He acknowledged the outstanding participation of workers, new economic actors, non-state workers, and neighbors organized through local popular councils, who all mobilized together to collect and distribute these resources as quickly as possible. This was the result of awareness campaigns that informed the public about the specific needs of those affected and how they could help.
He said the donations represent a “shipment of love” from the people of Las Tunas to those affected, and noted that shipments will be sent to the regions determined based on the extent of the damage.
Tamayo Ruiz emphasized the importance of community support in situations like this, because “it helps mitigate the effects of disaster and also strengthens social bonds and promotes a sense of belonging and collective responsibility.”
These acts of solidarity, nurtured by the Revolution, are joined by the presence of locals working in the disaster zones—such as employees from the Conalza Las Tunas Construction and Assembly Company, Telecommunications Company SA (Etecsa), members of the Armed Forces (FAR), and other sectors—who are currently working to restore the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in other parts of eastern Cuba.
