Hurricane Melissa battered eastern Cuba on October 29, 2025, damaging at least 45,282 homes. The Council of Ministers promised to finance 50% of construction materials, but experts doubt its feasibility amid chronic shortages. Affected families grapple with a housing deficit exceeding 850,000 units.
Hurricane Melissa struck eastern Cuba for seven hours on October 29, 2025, with winds up to 200 kilometers per hour and heavy rain, leaving destruction in provinces including Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Las Tunas. Preliminary official data reported at least 45,282 housing damages, adding to thousands of homes destroyed or affected by prior storms like Ian in 2022 and Matthew in 2017.
On October 31, the Council of Ministers, signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, announced assistance measures. The state will finance 50% of construction material prices for homes with total or partial damage. It also authorizes bank loans, subsidies, and social assistance for low-income individuals, covering interest rate differences. The Ministry of Finance and Prices will provide price discounts and service reductions.
Economist Pedro Monreal, a former UNESCO specialist, critiqued the promise on social media: “does not make clear how subsidies and loans could translate into real resources.” He noted the backwardness of Cuba’s disaster protection systems compared to other Caribbean nations using parametric microinsurance and cash transfers.
Effectiveness hinges on material availability, which is scarce in Cuba. The National Housing Program is stalled, with cement and steel shortages in all provinces, as authorities admitted in July 2025. The Construction Materials Business Group (Geicon) reported production drops in aggregates, wall slabs, and other items in 2024. The housing deficit exceeds 850,000 units, with only 2,728 homes built by mid-2025.
Stories like Hilda’s, who has lived 17 years in a crumbling house after four hurricanes without state help, highlight vulnerability. In Guantánamo, families hit by Cyclone Oscar in 2024 still live in tents or makeshift shelters. One comment underscores the challenge: a family needs $300 USD, and even with 50% state coverage, the remaining $150 equals nine months' wages in pesos.