Paris, 14 November.– The Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Cuba to UNESCO, H.E. Mrs. María del Carmen Herrera Caseiro, held a working meeting with Mr. Ahmed Zaouche, Head of the Crisis Preparedness and Response Section; Ms. Alessandra Borchi, General Coordinator of that Section; and Ms. Joyce Monteiro, Head of the Latin America and the Caribbean Unit of UNESCO’s Division of External Relations, with the aim of coordinating and following up on the assistance provided by the Organization after the powerful Hurricane Melissa struck eastern Cuba.
During the exchange, the immediate response provided by UNESCO in the fields of education, culture, and communication and information was reviewed, as well as the prospects for continuing to support national recovery efforts and strengthening the resilience of affected communities. The Ambassador expressed her appreciation for the solidarity shown by UNESCO and for the priority attention given to the eastern provinces of Cuba, which were severely impacted by the meteorological phenomenon.
In the field of education, emphasis was placed on support for psychosocial assistance to children, adolescents, and young people, as well as on support for the resumption of educational activities through the provision of school supplies and teaching kits, contributing to the creation of safe learning spaces. In the area of communication and information, actions aimed at ensuring access to verified and timely information on the disaster response were also addressed.
Likewise, initiatives aimed at the protection and recovery of affected tangible and intangible cultural heritage were assessed, in particular the Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations in the Southeast of Cuba and living cultural expressions of the eastern region of the country, through technical assistance, damage assessments, and emergency measures geared toward sustainable recovery.
The Permanent Delegation of Cuba to UNESCO reiterated its recognition for the Organization’s support and its willingness to continue strengthening cooperation, in line with Cuba’s commitment to multilateralism and comprehensive disaster risk management.
In this context, the Permanent Delegation recalled the Note Verbale sent by the outgoing Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, in which the Secretariat of the Organization expressed its most sincere condolences to the people and the Government of Cuba for the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, reaffirming UNESCO’s solidarity with the country.
Ambassador Herrera Caseiro underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen technical cooperation and resource mobilization in order to move toward a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive recovery that integrates cultural heritage, community livelihoods, and the well-being of the affected population.
Through its emergency response mechanisms, UNESCO supports its Member States in protecting education, culture, and access to information in crisis situations, in coordination with national authorities and the action plans of the United Nations system.