Adventists in Cuba Aid Victims in the Aftermath of Hurricane Oscar

Seventh-day Adventists across Cuba have been mobilizing to support hundreds of church members affected by Hurricane Oscar, which struck the eastern part of the island near Baracoa, Guantánamo, on October 20. The Category 1 hurricane brought 13-foot (4-meter) waves to coastal communities, resulting in seven fatalities, and damaging more than 1,000 homes, according to media reports.

“The major damage was in the municipalities of San Antonio del Sur and Imías, where rivers overflowed after three days without power throughout the entire island,” Cuba Union Conference president Aldo Pérez said in a video message he shared days after the storm. He encouraged church members to pray for those concentrated in the hardest-hit communities, noting, “We have one Adventist for every four people in the mountains there.” Many families have lost everything, he added. Regional church leaders, however, have not reported any deaths among church members.

In Imías, local church pastor Karel Falcón and his wife, Arelis, experienced the hurricane’s fury firsthand when they were surprised by rising waters in the middle of the night. “They tried to open the front door, but the pressure of the water prevented it, so they rushed to the back and escaped to the mountains,” Ireidys Pita, communication director of the Cuban Union Conference, said. “Thanks to God, they were saved, but they lost everything in their house and are now staying with a neighbor.” Following the storm, Falcón quickly set out to reach local members in nearby communities.

Communication has been challenging since many roads are impassable, and the hurricane struck while many residents were asleep. “Many of our brothers and sisters lived right on the seafront, and we are concerned for them,” Pita explained.

In response to the disaster, the church’s Inter-American Division (IAD) has activated funding to assist affected members. “We activated disaster assistance according to our policy, and will keep an eye on the needs there,” IAD treasurer Ivelisse Herrera said.

This week, food items such as rice, beans, oil, and pasta are being gathered and sent to the eastern region. Church leaders, including Pérez, loaded supplies into a large vehicle for the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) drive to Imías and San Antonio del Sur. “Once they can assess the region, they will have more information about the church community there,” Pita added.

Churches throughout Havana and other parts of the island are also collecting food, blankets, and miscellaneous supplies for the affected members.

Roberto Soler, a local pastor at the Boyeros Adventist church in Havana, worked with a group of young members to assemble bags of clothing and supplies donated by church members. “Several Pathfinders and Adventurers helped package the donated items for Baracoa,” Pita noted. “We praise God that many other districts, like Violeta-Bolivia-Grúa Nueva, as well as those from Potrerillo, Freyre, Morón, and Ciego de Ávila have been able to support our brothers and sisters affected by the hurricane.”

Hurricane Oscar weakened to a tropical storm a few hours after making landfall in eastern Cuba, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.