Jim O'Keeffe
Question:205 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the damage caused in Cuba by the recent Hurricane Michelle; and if support will be made available. [29027/01]
Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.
Following the landfall of Hurricane Michelle on the southern coast of Cuba on 4 November, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination team visited the country to assess the situation on the ground. Five people were reported to have died with many thousands having to be provided with temporary shelter. The Cuban Society of the Red Cross mobilised more than 12,000 volunteers who helped evacuate those at risk to temporary accommodation or to houses of relatives or friends.
By 9 November the UN reported that water and electricity supplies had been substantially restored in Havana, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara and the Isla de la Juventud and totally restored in Sancti Spiritus and Ciego de Avila. Electricity supplies were also substantially restored to these and other areas at that time. Thanks to the ongoing work of the Cuban Government and local authorities, further progress has been made in the restoration of basic services and in the provision of shelter to those in need since that date.
The Government of Cuba decided not to issue an international appeal in response to Hurricane Michelle and the Cuban Society of the Red Cross has taken a similar line. However, Cuba has benefited from the services of the Pan-American Disaster Response Unit – PADRU – which is run by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Crescent and is supported by the Irish Government. In response to Hurricane Michelle, a representative of PADRU was sent to Cuba to support the national emergency effort. PADRU also worked closely with the Cuban Red Cross on the ground and kept a regional logistics unit on standby in Panama. This work was supported by an Ireland Aid grant of £100,000 made to PADRU earlier this year. In addition, the Government has decided to provide a further US$60,000 in support of UNICEF-Cuba which is responding to the immediate health needs of children in areas affected by Hurricane Michelle.
The European Union, which is Cuba's major donor, is providing 8 million in humanitarian and emergency preparedness support for that country this year. This assistance is addressing immediate humanitarian needs as well as those of the elderly, the handicapped, mothers and other vulnerable sectors of the population. Geographically, the EU's humanitarian support concentrates on the five eastern provinces of Cuba which are most at risk due to hostile climate and remoteness along with some areas of the central provinces. In addition, the EU provides economic and NGO co-financing support which amounted to 13 million in 2000. During 1993-2000 78 million has been provided in humanitarian aid by the EU, representing 65% of its total support to Cuba during that period.
Since the beginning of the year 2000, almost £6 million has been provided by the Government in assistance to countries in Latin America. This assistance is made up of emergency relief and recovery support, co-financing of NGOs and missionaries and support for human rights and democratisation. The Government will continue its support, both bilaterally and as a contributing member of the EU, for emergency relief and preparedness programmes in Cuba and other countries of Latin America which remain particularly susceptible to climatic and other forms of natural disaster.