September 2, 2015 (Granma) As of 3pm on Tuesday, September 1, most of the Cuban medical personnel, construction and electrical technicians had arrived in Dominica by sea - sent in solidarity to provide help to the people of this sister nation, and make a modest contribution to recovery efforts following the devastating effects of tropical storm Erika.

At 8:30pm the remaining personnel and shipments of medicine, supplies and disposable materials arrived in the country.

The 21-member Cuban brigade and 2.1 tons of aid departed from Havana’s José Martí International Airport in the early hours of August 31 on a Cubana de Aviación aircraft, after completing all internationally established procedures.

The crew was however informed mid-flight that the aircraft would not be able to land at Dominica’s International Airport given damage caused to the facility by the storm, nor at an alternative airport given its inadequate technical and security conditions, thus obliging the plane to land in Martinique. The delegation’s subsequent arrival by sea was made possible by the governments of the Commonwealth of Dominica and Martinique, to which the Cuban authorities are profoundly grateful.
 
The Cuban brigade has now joined the 11 doctors already offering their services in Dominica, within its comprehensive health program. They have been working in a relief capacity since the storm hit.