November 11, 2025 — teleSUR
On Tuesday morning, the ALBA ship “Manuel Gual” arrived at the “Guillermón Moncada” port in Santiago de Cuba (east) , coming from La Guaira, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , with a cargo of 5,000 tons of humanitarian aid destined for the areas most affected by Hurricane Melissa , a gesture that deepens the solidarity and cooperation between both sister nations.
The docking maneuver took place at 06:45 local time at the container terminal in the harbor , as part of the coordinated actions between both Governments to strengthen solidarity cooperation in the face of natural emergencies .
The ship transported 102 containers with essential supplies, including 74 containers with food and 28 with medicines , drinking water , basic household items such as sheets, mattresses and bags, clothing, toys , water storage tanks , and electrical material intended for repairs and maintenance of the energy system in the eastern region.
On the deck of the ship, the flags of Cuba and Venezuela flew together , a symbol of the brotherhood and historical cooperation between both nations .
In an exclusive interview with teleSUR , the governor of Santiago de Cuba, Beatriz Johnson , president of the Provincial Defense Council , highlighted that this is the second shipment from Venezuela received after the passage of the meteorological phenomenon.
“ From the bottom of our hearts, as people of Santiago and Cuba, we are grateful for this help that comes to us at such an important and strategic moment for the life of the country ,” the official said.
Present at the event were Jorge Luis Broche Lorenzo , head of the Department of Attention to the Social Sector of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), as well as the Venezuelan ambassador to Cuba, Orlando Maneiro Gaspar , and the Venezuelan vice-minister of Public Works, Domiciano Graterol , along with representatives of the PCC and local authorities.
Graterol reported that, in addition to the humanitarian aid, a Venezuelan brigade of 22 specialists in electricity, roads and transportation arrived, who are already working on the repair of critical infrastructure .
According to the official, after an aerial assessment tour , 17 destroyed bridges were identified , along with more than 100 kilometers of damaged roads and 14,000 affected homes , of which 5,000 were completely destroyed .
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been following the support and assessment operations in real time, requesting updated reports on the impacts and the progress of the joint tasks.
For his part, President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez toured the eastern regions just 24 hours after Hurricane Melissa (which struck Cuba as a Category 3 storm) passed through, accompanied by rescue teams, electrical brigades, and medical personnel. The Cuban head of state publicly thanked the Venezuelan people for their solidarity during what he described as a crucial time for national recovery.
Ambassador Maneiro Gaspar emphasized that the shipment represents ” the highest expression of humanity and brotherhood that has always characterized our peoples ” and recalled that Venezuela has been present in other times of emergency on the island .
Hurricane Melissa has been described by Civil Defense authorities as one of the most intense and devastating weather events to hit the Caribbean in recent decades .
Within hours, the rains and winds caused severe flooding, destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, and disruption of transportation routes in Cuba’s eastern provinces.
Emergency operations allowed for the evacuation of nearly one million people with the support of helicopters, trains, buses, trucks, and boats . This preserved lives and resulted in no reported fatalities despite the devastation caused by the hurricane.
Author: teleSUR – cc – JDO
Source: teleSUR
