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Letter from Jamaica-Cuba Friendship Association 48 Merrion Road, Kingston 3, Jamaica Tel: (876)930-6435 email: friendshipfive@yahoo.com Dear Friends: As you might have already known, our sister island has been severely impacted by the passage of back to back hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike, whose trail of destruction have been likened to a ‘nuclear strike’ by the leader of the revolution Fidel Castro. Although the final estimates of the damage wrought by these natural phenomena have not yet been completed, due to areas in the western provinces being affected by Hurricane Ike up to September 10th, the picture that has emerged is one of devastation. Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) houses have been completely destroyed which does not include other buildings such as shelters. Devastation to agricultural ground provisions and livestock farming that runs into tens of millions of dollars. Severe and considerable damage to the power and telecommunications grid, which has disrupted this vital service across the country The regrettable loss of 7 human lives, in a process where over 1.2 million persons were evacuated as the hurricanes cut a 625-mile swathe across the nation state. It’s in fact, a signal testimony to the experience, preparedness and discipline of the Cuban authorities and people, that greater human lives were not lost. The primary needs of the Cuban people at this time are for building and electrical material and canned food products. We have also done the following to facilitate your contributions. An account named the Cuban Hurricane Relief Fund has been opened at the Half Way Tree Branch of the National Commercial Bank (NCB), with account number: 301072759. Donations in kind will be accepted by calling Basim Al Khalili or Margaret Lawson at the following numbers 631-6148/49 or 754-0441. We are also acutely aware, that as a country and people we too are experiencing challenging times but let us rise to the occasion and assist our sister nation in their hour of need. Sincerely Dr. Lorenzo Gordon President
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