Impact of Hurricane Melissa on Churches in Eastern Cuba
- Xiomara Reboyras-Ortiz
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 20
Santiago de Cuba, November 2025.
Greetings my beloved ones, I thank our good God for the opportunity He gives us to serve together in the Kingdom.
Thank you for your prayers and support during this time.
Here is a simple overview of the damage caused in the hurricane in eastern Cuba, where more than 80% of the Baptist churches affiliated with the Eastern Cuban Baptist Convention are located. This has been the most severe affected area, exacerbating a health and humanitarian crisis affecting the country for several years.
Homes and Buildings Flooded and Roofs Destroyed
Melissa's impact on families, homes, churches, and chapels is devastating.
These are the churches most drastically affected. A total of 280 places of worship, and communities and towns completely devastated.
Santiago de Cuba - 75
Manzanillo- 40
Holguín - 45
Sagua Moa - 52
Bayamo - 48
Guantanmo - 20
As on other occasions we have been able to see the good hand of God working in our favor and we pray that in this time the windows of heaven will be opened to help our people.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from all of them.” Psalm 34:19
Providing support, aid, and services in the wake of the hurricane is a major challenge due to the extensive areas affected and the destructive impact in several provinces (Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and part of Guantánamo).
You Can Help!
Follow the link and type "Disaster Relief" in the memo line.
Our first mission is to thank God for protecting our lives, preserving us for His purposes, and making His power known. As in other experiences, we accompany with the resources we have at our disposal and with the faith that the Lord will surprise us with his blessings, and we affirm that he is already doing so.
Each church and affected area, together with their missionary pastors and leaders, develops plans for aid and spiritual support.
From our perspective, we are directing resources according to urgency, priorities, scope stages, availability, and impact.
Local Charging Stations
STAGE I
Purchase of food, water, and essential vital resources.
We provide shelter to neighbors in the community whose homes could not withstand the winds and rains.
Purchase of water and first response medications
Medical assistance with professional healthcare providers who are members of the churches.
Purchase and transportation of charcoal from Maisi and Baracoa, the easternmost part of the island, for food preparation. For years, the island has faced a critical problem of lack of electricity, and with the hurricane, the situation is now total. Charcoal is currently the only and most reliable source for preparing food for the communities.
Organization of community kitchens (already established at the time of writing this report); and distribution of food and supplies to each community kitchen.
Purchase of fuel for a single generator that serves hundreds of people (From day one, service is provided to the church and community to charge devices (lamps, fans, cell phones)
Assistance with hygiene supplies and towels, bedding to families who have lost everything so that they can take shelter.
STAGE II
Provision of blankets, mattresses, sheets, clothes, shoes, as the loss has been total
Financial assistance for the payment of resources (construction materials) since the government will subsidize 50% of the cost, but the families do not have the financial resources to access the other 50%. The hundreds of families we serve in the affected area really do not have those resources.
STAGE III
Cutting down trees that obstruct the passage and the recovery of the homes that were damaged.
Debris removal with technical assistance and from the brothers anticipating the rise and spread of the virus that already affects us and for which dozens of people are dying daily due to the lack of medicine on the island.
Trees and Roads Destroyed by Strong Winds and Flooding
STAGE IV
Creation of brigades with the support of church members whom will help in the reconstruction of houses, chapels and temples
STAGE V
Creation of projects that allow self-sustainability, a source of food and income for affected families (planting of vegetables, raising animals, reforestation of existing devastated fields or farms)
We know that this is what our people have needed since the hurricane, and it is what we are praying and working for. In this way, we would be providing significant spiritual, emotional, and material support to the Church of Christ in eastern Cuba.
With the firm conviction that “God is not unjust to forget your work and the labor of love that you have shown towards his name, having served the saints and still serving them”; Hebrews 6:10
You Can Help!
Follow the link and type "Disaster Relief" in the memo line.
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