Recovery work checked in territories affected by Hurricane Ian

Havana, December 29 (RHC)-- With the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, a meeting was held at the Palace of the Revolution to check on the recovery of the territories affected by Hurricane Ian on September 27, according to the presidential website.

From the Palace of the Revolution, the President pointed out that the numbers must be followed up precisely; they must be permanently updated. Only in this way is it possible to know in detail where progress is not being made and what are the reasons for such delays. 

Through video-conference, the country's leadership dialogued with the authorities of the provinces of Mayabeque, Havana, Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and the Special Municipality of Isla de la Juventud.

The Cuban President inquired about how many houses have been fully restored, how many roofs have been rebuilt and how many new buildings have been erected.

Also present were Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, and Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People's Power and of the Council of State.

Tamara Valido Benítez, governor of Mayabeque, announced that the province has already recovered 75.2 percent of the total number of houses affected. Seventeen of the 29 partial collapses have been solved, and 91.1 percent of the partial roof damages have been solved.

In Surgidero de Batabanó, said Valido, significant progress has been made in the asphalting and sewerage works; work is being carried out on the sidewalks of the main avenues, and progress is being made in the laying of paving stones, in works which will include the use of some 150 thousand pieces.

In the capital of the country, out of the 1,55 houses affected, 822 have been solved, which represents a 78 percent recovery rate, according to the Governor of the province, Reinaldo García Zapata.

In the province of Artemisa, it was learned that out of the total of 11,482 affected houses, 3,188 have been solved so far.

According to the authorities of the territory, they continue working on the total and partial collapse of buildings, while making an effort in the local production of construction materials, and do not lose sight of the fact that there are difficulties with cement, with blankets for waterproofing roofs, and with the resources with which the fixing of zinc roof tiles is guaranteed.

As for the Isla de la Juventud Special Municipality, it is estimated that the six houses that were totally damaged will be finished in the first quarter of 2023. It was also learned that of the 252 partial roof collapses, 243 have already been solved; and of the 17 total roof collapses, 15 have already been solved.

For their part, the authorities of Pinar del Río informed that two new actions were incorporated to the more than twenty that were designed as part of the aqueduct recovery tasks; and that the three sources of water supply that presented the greatest difficulties in the territory are already working.

For agriculture and its goals, the recent days of rains have been very favorable; and with respect to poultry production, 98 of the 133 houses that were affected have been recovered.

Work continues on tobacco recovery. One thousand 158 natural cure houses have already been completed, and work has begun on the construction of another 227.

Likewise, some 200 schools, more than one hundred health facilities and more than 300 commercial spaces have been recovered.

As for housing damage, which continues to be a priority, 19,018 homes have already been rebuilt.

Towards the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, emphasized the importance of intensifying the recovery work, and that this is the spirit in which the beginning of the year 2023 will be undertaken.