Diaz-Canel: Recovery after floods has been fast

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 27 (ACN) The response to the damage caused by the subtropical storm Alberto has been rapid and recovery in the affected provinces is progressing, said the President of the Council of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, during a recent video conference.

The meeting was also attended by the First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Salvador Valdés Mesa; several vice-presidents and ministers, as well as authorities of the Party and the Government of the western and central provinces, according to Granma newspaper.

"Now it is time to continue working on two fundamental issues: the recovery of housing and agriculture," emphasized Díaz-Canel, and insisted on the need to continue defending the criterion that everything that is done must be better than it was.

Alejandro Gil Fernández, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Planning, reported that the government sent enough mattresses and covers for roofs, and it is ready to send more if necessary.

He explained that also sent food to be distributed as part of the family basket, and fuel to undertake the recovery work.

The Minister of Construction, René Mesa Villafaña, said that the total damage to housing has decreased to 5,218 and there are 926 roofs affected.

He said that specific solutions to the problems are constantly being sought and that work is being organized on the bridge over the Zaza River, of which 18 beams have already been built.

Minister of Finance and Prices, Lina Pedraza Rodriguez, said that 127 offices had been created to provide personalized attention to the victims in the central provinces with the greatest impact.

About the province of Ciego de Avila, it was known that the almost 200 damaged houses have a temporary solution, especially in the municipalities of Florencia, Chambas and Venezuela.

In addition, work is being done to restore vitality to the Morón-Turiguanó road and the 535 tons of rice were harvested, while the railway line that connects with the town of Punta Alegre is still out of service.

In Sancti Spíritus, some 6,700 hectares of various crops have been planted in an emergency plan and the harvest of tobacco and rice continues, while aquaculture and the collection of milk have been recovered. At present, the greatest impact remains on roads, where they work in a sustained manner.

From Villa Clara it was explained that the reservoirs are 97.4% full and the rains persist in the province; the number of hectares planted in agriculture has increased to 15,000 and most of the orchards and organopónicos have been recovered, for which the support of workers from different work centers was decisive.

The Cienfuegos authorities detailed that in the rural settlement of Arimao, several boreholes have been drilled to supply water to two communities. They are also working on the accelerated planting of short-cycle crops to increase the supply to the population.

As for the railways, the most difficult situation lies in two bridges that link the province with Havana.
Regarding the bay of Cienfuegos, an evaluation is made of how to get to Punta Ladrillo -it can only be done through the sea- where an area of 100 square meters remains affected by oily waters.

In the case of Matanzas, it was said that the Research and Project Company completed a first report on the flooding in the Ciénaga de Zapata, which favors decision-making in that territory, where 10 homes remain flooded. It was also learned that the progress of the school year is normalized throughout the province.

Particularly on the Kindelán bridge it was explained that the rains of the last few days made it impossible to complete the repair work and thus restore traffic on the northern circuit.

According to the authorities of Artemisa and Mayabeque, it has been raining frequently in both provinces, which has not prevented the planting or harvesting of products, and the delivery to the capital of the committed food figures was confirmed.

From Pinar del Río it was highlighted that the planting of short-cycle products is being promoted and some 27,000 tons of rice are being harvested. Meanwhile, more than 32 million cujes of tobacco have been collected, which makes this a great campaign, more than in the last 12 years.

On the other hand, it was reported that 94 new housing developments were affected, caused by the rains of recent days.