Italy has joined the Response Plan to Hurricane Melissa, coordinated by the United Nations system in Cuba together with major international partners. The passage of Melissa—among the three most intense hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic region—severely affected the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo, leaving more than 1.7 million people with damage to their homes, one million without essential goods, and over 117,000 still without access to safe drinking water. Estimates indicate particularly severe levels of destruction, with damaged infrastructure, isolated communities, and compromised water and sanitation systems.
In this context, Italy has confirmed its cooperation with Cuba and with the multilateral system by making available €200,000 to support the most urgent interventions of the Response Plan, which requires a total of USD 74.2 million. This contribution is part of a bilateral cooperation relationship active for over ten years in the eastern regions of the country, aimed at strengthening sustainable and local development, food security, and territorial resilience to climate change.
Through these measures, Italy adds its contribution to national and international efforts for a coordinated and effective response to the emergency caused by Hurricane Melissa, reaffirming the continuity of its partnership with Cuba and the capacity of the Italian cooperation system to adapt its tools to the needs of partner countries.