Cuba is still reeling from the devastating effects of not just one but three natural disasters.
Hurricane Oscar hit eastern Cuba on Oct. 20. Hurricane Rafael ripped through western Cuba on Nov. 6. A 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook the eastern part of the island on Nov. 11, compounding the destruction left by the hurricanes. Within hours of the disasters, Send Relief, through local partners and churches, mobilized to provide critical relief to families in heavily hit areas.
When the disasters struck, food and medication spoiled in refrigerators, phone screens cut to black as batteries died, and well water pumps were rendered inoperable due to a series of blackouts over the past month that left 8.5 million without electricity.
Cuba is grappling with severe food, water and gasoline shortages, which affect not only cars but also generators. The storms damaged banana, cassava, rice, beans, vegetable, corn and soybean crops. The crippling effects of the natural disasters extend beyond food and water.
Massive flooding cut off some regions, delaying aid delivery for days. Landslides left areas in peril. In Havana alone, 460 buildings wholly or partially collapsed. Many buildings are without roofs, and Christians report churches were damaged during the disasters.
The ongoing needs are overwhelming, but Send Relief is partnering with local churches, Cuba’s Eastern and Western Baptist Conventions, Florida Baptists and other partners to provide much-needed relief.
In Send Relief’s initial response to Hurricane Oscar in the far eastern part of Cuba, food, mattresses and kitchen supplies were distributed by the Western Baptist Convention. The Eastern Baptist Convention shared all the items listed above, as well as 600 water filters donated by First Baptist Church, Opelika, Alabama.
Send Relief leadership shared how encouraging it was to see how churches in Cuba’s Western Baptist Convention responded to the devastation in the East. Churches sent several truckloads of food, clothing and other much-needed supplies. A local church in Havana followed Hurricane Rafael’s devastating strike by sending a large bus filled with relief supplies to the hardest-hit areas in the East. More aid is on the way.
Donations to Send Relief will help with the purchase of food, generators, clothing, mattresses, roofing materials, and kitchen and cleaning supplies.
A Christian in Cuba shared that churches in Cuba are not just places to worship on Sundays; they are the center of communities, making them prime places to distribute aid. Send Relief is working with Christians who are hosting feeding kitchens in churches with intact roofs. Some churches have generators, which are utilized to provide meals, charge phones, pump water from wells and keep refrigerators running so families can store milk, food and medicine.
The churches are feeding thousands of their neighbors. Six churches are distributing food and supplies in one area, and one church alone has already fed more than 650 people. Fifty churches are operating out of local churches in the eastern areas affected by the hurricanes. Even amidst their loss, these Christians are selflessly serving.
“In the face of the recent disasters in Cuba, we have witnessed the unwavering faith and endurance of our partners on the ground,” said Matt Waldraff, Send Relief’s area director. “Their commitment to serving the most vulnerable in their communities is a testament to the body of Christ in action. Their tireless efforts and steadfast presence have provided much-needed hope in a time of crisis. They consistently show the love of Christ through both words and deeds, and it is a blessing to be able to serve alongside them. Their resilience is not just a reflection of their strength, but of God’s faithfulness to His people.”
The island nation, by many accounts, is in the midst of a spiritual awakening.
Two years ago, churches reported that 101,514 people made professions of faith. Last year, 142,634 committed their lives to Christ. The 22 new churches and the 6,086 house churches that have formed have opportunities to be salt and light in their communities.
“The church in Cuba is growing stronger, even as the island faces so much hardship after these disasters. Pray that as we partner with believers there to bring much-needed help, they will be a light to their neighbors and earn the opportunity to be heard as they show and share the love of Jesus,” said Bryant Wright, president of Send Relief.
Southern Baptist churches and conventions in the U.S. have answered the call to help. The Florida Baptist Convention joined ranks with Send Relief and the Cuban conventions to deliver aid. Send Relief staff and volunteers plan to travel to Cuba to deliver water filters and other supplies.
Your gifts to Send Relief will help provide food, water and shelter to communities recovering from the hurricanes and earthquake. Donate now.
You can also partner through prayer.
Join us in praying for Cuba.
- Pray for survivors in Cuba, as many are suffering from a lack of food, electricity and water.
- Pray for families who have lost or suffered damage to their homes.
- Pray for those who have lost their livelihoods and crops.
- Pray for Cuban church partners as they minister to their neighbors.
- Pray for the spiritual revival that continues across Cuba, as thousands come to faith in Christ.
- Pray for Send Relief as it continues to respond with partners.
- Pray that Send Relief and our partners will be able to offer help and the hope of Christ amid the loss and recovery.