The chief of the National General Staff of the Cuban Civil Defense, Ramón Pardo, affirmed today that the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the Caribbean island makes it difficult to sustain the early warning system.
Washington's policy against Havana for six decades has created a complex situation for us, stressed Pardo on the opening day of the 11th International Congress on Disasters and the 7th International Conference of Firefighters, which runs until Friday in the capital's Palacio de Convenciones.
In spite of external threats, the Caribbean nation is directing its efforts to the search for alternatives that will allow it to advance in different directions in a sustainable manner, Pardo said.
It is vital and much better to manage risk reduction and not disasters, "hence the country maintains its strategy for disaster reduction management to avoid improvisation in response actions and subsequent recovery," said Pardo.
The Cuban Civil Defense from its beginnings, is and will be a guarantee for the population, first of all, we always want to preserve the lives of human beings, the economic heritage, natural resources and the environment, he said.
Climate change is an unquestionable reality, in 2023 several temperature records were registered, said Pardo.
The human species, he lamented, was impacted by heat waves, storms, floods and forest fires, among other extreme events.
The forecast for 2050, taking into account the effects of climate change, will cause, among other consequences, the displacement of more than 17 million people in search of better living conditions, economic opportunities and basic services.
Other elements that are part of the migratory movement are hunger, poverty, inequality and food insecurity, added Pardo, insisting on the importance of reducing disaster risks.