Canadian Cuban Friendship Association – Vancouver
Affiliated with the Canadian Network on Cuba

Dear Members and Friends

As you probably have heard, incredibly powerful Hurricane Matthew has devastated the eastern tip of Cuba. Particularly hard hit has been the beautiful town of Baracoa that lies literally at the “end of the road”. Of course the Cuban people are coming together, as usual, to support those communities affected. At the same time, cognizant of the economic challenges faced by Cuba as a result of the continuing economic blockade by the USA, many countries and citizens of the world are acting in solidarity with those Cubans in the affected region.

The CCFA (Vancouver) as a member of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), will be participating with other Canadians in efforts to support our Cuban friends through the solicitation of funds to be forwarded to the people of Cuba for the purpose of restoration and rebuilding etcetera.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO THIS.

We include below, excerpts from a press release from the CNC for your information.

CCFA Vancouver Executive

Hurricane Matthew Relief & Reconstruction for Cuba Campaign, October 16, 2016 Hurricane Matthew, with winds of 225kph (140mph), struck eastern Cuba on October 4, causing significant and widespread damage. Because of Cuba’s internationally renowned and acclaimed civil defense system, there was no loss of life. However, Baracoa, Cuba’s oldest city and known internationally as one of the most beautiful parts of the island, has been devastated. With a population of more than 80,000, Baracoa has been reduced to rubble. Baracoa resident Osvaldo Neira poignantly underscored the situation, declaring, "We lost everything.”

Cuba will have to expend considerable resources, both immediate and long term, in order to overcome the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Matthew especially in the province of Guantanamo, where the municipalities of Baracoa, Maisi, Imias and San Antonio del Sur took the brunt of the hurricane. To assist Cuba in its immense efforts of recovery and reconstruction, the Canadian Network On Cuba (CNC) is launching a Hurricane Matthew Relief & Reconstruction for Cuba Campaign.

In recent years, the CNC has had a series of successful Hurricane Relief Campaigns. The most recent was in 2012 when Hurricane Sandy struck the island, causing massive damage to Santiago de Cuba. In 2008, the CNC’s most extensive campaign was launched when a series of hurricanes caused damage in excess of $10-billion. The CNC not only raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, but also directly participated in the construction of a new social and cultural centre on La Isla de La Juventud.

In 2016, as Cuba faces this latest challenge, we are confident that Canadians - as they have repeatedly done - will once again demonstrate their friendship and solidarity with Cuba by supporting the island as it recovers from the ravages of Hurricane Matthew.

Our experience with regard to Cuba's response to natural disasters is that it knows how to multiply the value of any donations it receives. We feel confident, based on the island's unsurpassed humanitarian work - both within Cuba and in other countries - that it has the skills, the organization and the ethical and moral values to put whatever assistance it receives to the best possible use. As they have shown throughout their history and especially since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959, the Cuban people will successfully overcome this new challenge. Even at this difficult time, Cubans continue to provide relief workers in Haiti.

The CNC urges everyone who so desires to support the Hurricane Matthew Relief & Reconstruction for Cuba Campaign by making a donation. Donations can be made out to the Canadian Network on Cuba and mailed to: Attn: Sharon Skup, 56 Riverwood Terrace Bolton, ON L7E 1S4 Please also write "CNC Matthew Relief Fund" on your cheque's memo line.

On Behalf of the Canadian Network On Cuba

Isaac Saney & Elizabeth Hill, CNC- Co-Chairs