U.S. Sends $9M to Rural Cuba After Hurricane Devastation

When Hurricane Melissa ripped through eastern Cuba in October 2025 with 120-mph winds, it left wheelchair-bound Teodardo Debardet without a roof over his head. Eight months later, he's finally getting help from an unexpected source: the United States.

Washington has committed $9 million in humanitarian aid for hurricane victims, working through the Catholic NGO Caritas to bypass the communist government. The package Debardet received on his modified bicycle wheelchair contained rice, beans, oil, canned goods, and water purification tablets.

The 63-year-old amputee, who lost his legs in a work accident and has only two fingers on each hand from illness, slowly made his way home to his wooden house in Hongolosongo. His roof and bathroom were destroyed, but he remains grateful for the support.

Caritas has already distributed nearly all of the initial $3 million sent at the beginning of the year. Washington has proposed an additional $100 million in aid, with $60 million going through Caritas and $40 million through other nonprofits.

In Debardet's rural community of 130 residents, fewer than half have electricity and only a minority have running water. Many families are still living under damaged roofs eight months after the storm.

The Ripple Effect

The aid delivery has become more than just disaster relief. Caritas teams bring medical consultations, haircuts, and activities for children along with the food packages.

"We welcome this aid, wherever it comes from," says 63-year-old resident Osmany Vedey. The sentiment reflects how humanitarian need transcends political divisions.

Getting supplies to remote communities requires creative problem solving. When fuel is scarce, Caritas coordinator Katia Simón arranges ox cart transportation to reach isolated families.

The United Nations, European Union, China, Mexico, Venezuela and other countries also sent aid in the months following the hurricane. Multiple organizations continue assistance programs despite ongoing fuel shortages that complicate logistics.

Havana is reviewing the expanded aid offer and its terms. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel noted that lifting the U.S. embargo, in place since 1962, would provide more lasting help than humanitarian packages.

For now, families in eastern Cuba's rural communities are rebuilding one roof at a time, supported by aid that crosses political boundaries to reach those who need it most.