Emergency aid for agricultural sector in Cuba
11 September 2008 -
Cuba had hardly coped with the impact of hurricane Gustav at the end of August when a new hurricane, Ike, caused severe havoc on the Caribian island. The damages as a result of these hurricanes are set at the estimated 10 billion US dollars. Disturbingly, the agricultural sector has been hit hard, putting the availability of food in jeopardy. Hivos has granted 100,000 Euros for the re-building of the agricultural sector.
Cuba had suffered heavy and extensive damages to crops, seeds and livestock installations in the entire country, leaving Cuba vulnerable to food insecurity on a national scale for the next six months. Emergency aids and funds for reconstruction will be needed on a large scale. Hivos has granted 100,000 Euros to help affected agricultural cooperatives in five provinces in the east of Cuba. Also, Welthungerhilfe, a Hivos-partner in the network Alliance2015, will be giving 100,000 Euros for similar projects.
Hurricane Ike hit the island of Cuba on 8 and 9 September, affecting 2.5 million inhabitants and destroying more than 250,000 homes. Although 'only' five people lost their lives as a result of the hurricane, the immaterial damage has been enormous with the public infrastructure - schools, hospitals, power grids, roads, bridges - being severely damaged.
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