Yesterday evening, as Haiti was rocked by a devastating 7.0 earthquake and a number of further damaging aftershocks, a tsunami warning was issued to Jamaica and Cuba. Cuban authorities evacuated some residents as a precaution. In the end, no tsunami resulted and these islands remain safe, but the destruction and loss of life in Haiti have been staggering, and have floored the international community. (Donate to the relief effort here, here and here).
Cuba has joined the international community in committing resources to the disaster, an effort currently spearheaded by the United States.
The United States has mentioned the possibility that it might use the Guantanamo Bay site in assisting with relief efforts—an initiative to which Cuba could certainly contribute. General Douglas Fraser, head of the U.S. Southern Command, told a press conference today that Guantanamo is “a resource that’s available if we need to take advantage of it for various reasons,” responding to questions about whether the base could be used to house refugees or perhaps prisoners from jails in Haiti that have collapsed in the earthquake.
This would really be a key time for cooperation between Washington and Havana.
In the meantime, continue to make contributions to the relief effort as you are able: here, here and here.
(Photo from Getty Images)