From October 20 to November 10, 2024, Cuba faced an unprecedented series of disasters that shook the nation to its core. Two hurricanes, Oscar (Category 1) and Rafael (Category 3) unleashed devastating winds that reached 185 km per hour, thunderstorms, and heavy rain. Two significant earthquakes of magnitudes 5.9 and 6.8 followed, destroying thousands of homes and causing widespread power outages for many days.

The aftermath was catastrophic - 378 lives were tragically lost, and damages soared to a staggering $140 billion. Whole provinces, including Guantánamo, Artemisa, and Granma, bore the brunt of this calamity, with nearly 5 million people pushed into a vulnerable state — exposed to the threat of diseases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a crippling lack of basic needs like food, water, and electricity. The situation is dire, and urgent action is needed.

What made this disaster even more tragic was the undeniable fact that, after more than 62 years of an unyielding commercial embargo, Cuba was ill-equipped to respond. The ongoing U.S. blockade—one of the longest-lasting regimes of sanctions in modern history—has significant humanitarian impacts, making it nearly impossible for Cuba to invest in the infrastructure necessary to protect its people, from healthcare to the essential resources needed for rebuilding the country. The government has prioritized restoring vital services, including rebuilding schools, energy systems, and water supply infrastructure. However, with limited resources and restricted access to outside aid, these efforts are hampered, and the challenges remain monumental.

In the face of such overwhelming adversity, Cuba stands united, drawing strength from the solidarity that has always been at its core. This essay will delve into the consequences of the U.S. embargo and the natural disasters, showing how these twin crises have affected the Cuban people and their ability to recover. Through it all, Cuba remains united in its commitment to rebuild and resilient in its belief in solidarity.

Stand in Solidarity with Cuba

Since 1995, CoDev has allied with Cuban workers in struggle through solidarity partnerships with the National Union of Public Administration Workers of Cuba (SNTAP) and the National Union of Education, Science and Sports Workers (SNTECD). The two unions collectively represent 765,000 affiliated members and workers.

In early 2025, CoDev will send a container filled with essential supplies to Cuba with the support of its Canadian partners and friends in solidarity. This is the third container in the Cuba Solidarity Container Project, which CoDev has led since 2017. The first container was sent that year, and the second in 2022. Below are some photos of our volunteers, board members, and staff organizing donations and labeling boxes:

Recently, one of CoDev's longest-standing partners in solidarity, the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF), contributed by purchasing solar panel generators that will help with immediate relief efforts.

Solidarity with Cuba goes far beyond sending supplies. We believe in the power of building bridges and mutual support, so we advocate for the end of the U.S. blockade. We raise awareness about Cuba's historical struggles and amplify the voices of our Cuban partners, ensuring their stories and fight for justice are heard worldwide.

You can get involved and support Cuba by becoming a CoDev member, donating any amount, or participating in our events, projects, and urgent actions.

We stand alongside the Cuban people and their tireless efforts to uphold human rights! Let Cuba Live!

An overview of the impact in different regions of Cuba following the devastating hurricanes and earthquakes in October and November 2024:

Health: 

Cuba's healthcare system has long been celebrated for its accessibility and comprehensiveness, earning praise as one of the best in the world. Yet, over time, this system has faced mounting challenges. The ongoing U.S. blockade has severely restricted Cuba's ability to import essential medications from major pharmaceutical companies, acquire medical equipment, sell domestically produced medicines abroad, and invest in critical infrastructure. These limitations have strained the healthcare system, slowing its once impressive progress.

To make matters worse, the natural catastrophes have further exacerbated these issues. More than 250 health institutions have been badly damaged, including hospitals, polyclinics, and doctor's offices. Of these, 113 are located in Artemisa, a particularly hard-hit province. This widespread destruction has sharply limited access to essential healthcare services, leaving many without the necessary care. The toll is hefty on mental health: stress, food insecurity, and the violence that often follows such emergencies have contributed to a sharp rise in mental health issues, including symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. 

Energy:

The U.S. embargo has cast a long shadow over Cuba's energy sector, severely limiting its ability to import oil from American companies — a vital source of fuel for the country's power plants and industries. While Cuba does import oil from nations like Venezuela and Russia, the supply and costs are far from stable. Venezuela's ongoing political and economic turmoil only adds to the uncertainty, making Cuba's reliance on these sources precarious. With such a limited range of suppliers, the fuel cost is significantly higher than if Cuba had access to a more diverse group of nations. 

After natural disasters at the end of 2024, the country's fragile power grid was pushed to its limits. More than 98% of the population in Artemisa and 83% in Havana were left without power. This blackout had a ripple effect, especially on the water supply system in Havana, where most of the city relies on electricity to pump water. Telecommunications also took a massive hit, with 495 telecommunication poles damaged in Havana and over 70% of radio communications knocked out across Artemisa, Havana, and Mayabeque.

In Granma, nearly 14,000 people lost access to electricity, further complicating the recovery process. While electricity coverage has improved over time, with 95.6% restored in Havana and 89.7% in Mayabeque, the collapse of the national power grid during Hurricane Rafael caused severe delays. As power slowly returns, mobile service is beginning to trickle back in, with previously shut-down base stations now coming online in affected regions, helping to rebuild communication channels in these hard-hit areas.

Water and Food production:

 In Artemisa, roughly 13,000 hectares of crops were wiped out — a devastating blow to staple crops like bananas, cassava, rice, beans, corn, and sweet potatoes. The poultry industry, too, felt the full force of the disaster, with 40 poultry houses destroyed and around 70,000 chickens lost.

Further east, in Mayabeque, the damage was no less severe. The region lost a staggering 2,085.3 hectares of crops, representing 75% of its agricultural output. Bananas, cassava, vegetables, and fruit trees were all heavily affected. But it wasn't just the crops that were destroyed. The disruption of essential services compounded the problem, putting the region's food security in even greater jeopardy.

In Artemisa, the situation became more dire as 83% of the population found themselves without access to water. In Mayabeque, towns like Batabanó, Melena del Sur, and Nueva Paz faced severe electricity outages, disrupting the water supply and worsening an already bad situation. Havana, the capital, was also hit hard. Around 80% of the population in the city lost access to water, with neighbourhoods like La Lisa, Marianao, and Playa among the most severely impacted.

To the east, Guantánamo struggled with a 70% collapse of its hydraulic network, and the town of Imías found itself entirely without water. These widespread disruptions have turned daily life into a struggle. Food production has stopped in many areas, and access to vital services is more challenging than ever. The consequences of these natural disasters, together with the long-enduring U.S. blockade, are far-reaching, with the Cuban people facing not only a loss of food and water but also the grim reality of an already fragile infrastructure pushed to its limits. Yet, in the face of these challenges, the Cuban people have shown remarkable resilience, working to rebuild and supporting one another in solidarity. 

The U.S. far-right elected government is threatening to worsen the situation.

The blockade in Cuba could worsen with the U.S. far right in office. Unlike the previous administration, in this re-election, Donald Trump holds a majority in the Senate and House, enabling him to carry out policies such as ending the humanitarian parole program, mass deportations of immigrants, and further restricting Americans' travel to Cuba, including banning group 'people-to-people' visits, and cruise ship stops (one of the primary source of the income for Cuban people). Adding the consequences of environmental catastrophes to the austerity policies puts Cuba in an even more inhumane and vulnerable situation.

This situation becomes even more disturbing, considering that the United States has historically contributed the most to climate change. Yet, the populations suffering from its disproportionate consequences are those in the South Global!

Sources and readings:

phsa-cuba-hurricane-hearthquake-final2.pdf

General Assembly renews long-standing call for end to US embargo against Cuba | UN News

What Could a New Trump Presidency Mean for Cubans? - Havana Times

Record-Breaking 2024 Hurricane Season: 378 Lives Lost and $140 Billion in Damages

Home - ASO Communications

Cuba Solidarity Container Project 2024 — CoDevelopment Canada

https://www.codev.org/news/cuba-solidarity-container-project-2024

Oscar hits Cuba as one of the smallest hurricanes on record - The Weather Network

Cuba fights to come back from a nationwide blackout, then a storm that killed 7 | AP News

Millions in Cuba remain without power as Hurricane Oscar makes landfall

Tropical Storm Oscar tracker: See projected path, spaghetti models

Trump hits Cuba with new sanctions in waning days | PBS News

Cuba Is 'Prepared' For Second Trump Term: President | Barron's

Who has contributed most to global CO2 emissions? - Our World in Data