Díaz-Canel and Marrero tour the province devastated by the cyclone amid controversy over the sale of water and mattresses
14ymedio, Madrid, November 14, 2025 — President Miguel Díaz-Canel travelled to Santiago de Cuba to see the situation for himself two weeks after Hurricane Melissa struck. A meeting of the National Defence Council was held there and broadcast on the television programme Mesa Redonda. Ironically, not many Santiago residents were able to watch it, as almost 60% of the province is still without electricity. And those who do have it are suffering power cuts.
“Many towns still have no electricity or drinking water. Hundreds of people have been evacuated, and most of the work still hasn’t been done in all the areas that were flooded,” said the president, whose prime minister has taken on the task of containing criticism over the sale of supplies, including water. Donated products are “completely free,” said Manuel Marrero, “but others must be paid for, which sometimes confuses people.”
The official explained that “the community group decides” who receives the aid, since it knows “the situation of each family.” This process must be carried out “with transparency and public oversight; people need to know what is arriving and who is receiving it.”
The official explained that “the community group decides” who to give it to, since they know “the situation of each family”.
This came up at the right time, in a week when questions about donated and subsidised aid began circulating on social media. On Wednesday, the director of Trade and Gastronomy in Granma said that water was being sold in the 10 Zone Defence Councils at a price of 40 pesos a bottle per household. “This resource comes from the state disaster reserve, it is not a donation, and it covers logistical costs at a token price,” she said in an official message. There was prompt criticism from people who considered it shameful to have to buy a basic necessity in the midst of a catastrophe.
The sale of mattresses has also been the talk of the town, to the point that even in Granma, the authorities have had to put up an argument, that not many agree with. A note from the Department of Prevention and Social Work mentions two types of mattresses, so that “the victims receive the necessary support in an equitable manner, taking into account their economic situation”.
There is talk of “cameros”, which are mattresses donated from abroad and distributed free of charge, and “personales”, which are mattresses purchased by the State for emergencies. These cost 911 pesos, but are subsidised by 50% for those who are “financially solvent”. The note adds that the State finances 100% of the mattresses for vulnerable people and mentions the “payment facilities” available to families in need, although no details have ever been given about these loans. Incidentally, it was revealed at yesterday’s meeting that more than 8,300 mattresses were lost or damaged, which is why production in Jíbaro has had to be increased and donations sought.
Díaz-Canel admitted that the situation in the affected area is “extremely difficult” and Marrero added that more than 149,000 homes and 158,000 hectares of crops have been affected. This, together with the restoring of electricity – which is at 98% in Guantánamo, 86.2% in Granma and 44% in Santiago de Cuba, meaning nothing more than a return to planned power cuts — and the epidemiological situation are the main concerns.
Palma Soriano, Songo La Maya, San Luis y Santiago se han identificado como municipios con epidemia, la misma que sacude al país entero
Palma Soriano, Songo La Maya, San Luis and Santiago have been identified as municipalities with epidemics, the same epidemic that is shaking the whole country.
Palma Soriano, Songo La Maya, San Luis, and Santiago have been identified as municipalities with epidemics, the same ones that are shaking the whole country, mainly dengue and chikungunya. In response to this, they stated that fumigation protocols have been reinforced.
The president of the Provincial Defence Council of Santiago de Cuba, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, said that 43% of the capital city has already been cleaned up – an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes – and expects 100% to be achieved by the 28th. The official acknowledged the government’s failure in her own way, admitting that there are still 6,900 areas without housing solutions since Sandy struck in 2012, and to these are now added more than 2,300 total collapses and more than 19,000 partial or total roof damages. More than half of the 1,244 schools have been affected and students have had to be relocated.
In Granma, Yanetsy Terry Gutiérrez highlighted the progress made in recovery, but acknowledged that many homes (more than 8,000) have been damaged, in addition to 52,000 hectares of land. Holguín is in slightly better shape, despite more than 900 total collapses and half of its educational institutions damaged. Party Secretary Joel Queipo Ruiz said the province is focusing on the psychological damage to the population. But not only that: there were more than 4,700 confiscations from those who took advantage of the situation to charge abusive prices. “There are people who have not understood the present situation,” he snapped.
Translated by GH
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