In a press conference, Alonso praised the response capacity in the recovery of the national power system, since the damages caused by both weather events were restored in less than 15 days.
To which is added the recovery of the aquifers and water systems after both hurricanes, he added.
Alonso pointed out that in Cuba’s recovery strategy after a hurricane, the first thing is to rescue and give vitality to society; revitalize electricity, water supply, as well as food sources with the available resources.
Regarding the damage caused by all three weather events, he noted that more than 34,000 homes were affected, a figure that must continue to rise, including 10,500 in Guantanamo (due to Hurricane Oscar), and more than 1,526 in Mayabeque, 1,812 in Havana and more than 19,498 in Artemisa (Hurricane Rafael).
Meanwhile, in the eastern province of Granma, up to Wednesday, Civil Defense counted more than 4,000 types of damage to the housing stock due to the earthquakes that shook that territory.
In reference to the power system, Alonso indicated that there are preliminarily some 2,469 damaged transformers, more than 1,400 fallen or fractured poles, and some 200 kilometers of distribution lines (high voltage lines and others).
The head of the Ministry of Economy added that eight high voltage towers, and more than 269 generator sets due to continued use, 14 hydroelectric plants and seven fuel depots were also damaged.
Regarding the health sector, Alonso indicated that some 115 facilities were affected, including 22 hospitals, 18 polyclinics, 43 family doctor’s offices, and three drug warehouses (the medicines were previously protected).
Some of the damage to communications consists of more than 600 poles, and more than 60 percent of the recovery has been completed, he commented.
Some 276 educational centers were also damaged, as well as seven cultural facilities, making it impossible to use these infrastructures, while others with minor damage were recovered or services were provided despite the damage.
Six baseball stadiums and 15 sports complexes were affected, in addition to 189 commercial buildings and four bridges.
So far, 37,000 hectares of agricultural production have been damaged, as well as facilities, and although only 10 percent of these damages have been quantified, losses are estimated at around 383 million Cuban pesos.
According to Alonso, all these economic losses will have an impact on this year’s gross domestic product, although there is no definite number.
However, he assured that there are positive effects that allow us to appreciate that Cuba’s economy has started to gain oxygen with improvements in the fiscal deficit. As well as certain macroeconomic indicators that allow us to predict that we are advancing in a process, always longed, of macroeconomic stabilization and that will require other additional measures, Alonso affirmed.
In his speech, he expressed gratitude for the support provided by the United Nations System, governments, institutions, companies, and people in Cuba and abroad who have contributed to alleviate the damage.
jg/lam/tdd
