Hurricane Irma - Emergency Water and Sanitation Support in Cuba - UNICEF 2018

September 2017 - Hurricane Irma struck Cuba’s north-central coast as a Category 5 hurricane moving along the northern Cuban coast with wind gusts of more than 200 km/h. The disaster has caused widespread flooding in northern Cuba including Havana home to 2.1 million people causing power outages loss of access to clean water and destroying crops homes and urban infrastructure. With GAC’s support the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping to meet the water and sanitation needs of hurricane-affected people in Cuba. Project activities include: (1) provision of safe drinking water and resources for its treatment as well as safe storage; (2) promotion of hygiene activities in emergency context; (3) control and monitoring of water quality; and (4) provision of water storage tanks at household and community levels.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to safe drinking water; and (2) improved access to hygiene and sanitation facilities. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.