US Pastors for Peace Group Is Going to Cuba End of October to Help in House Reconstruction

October 18, 2008

Dear Friends of Cuba,

Just a month ago, the island of Cuba was devastated by Hurricane Ike, the 4th hurricane to hit the country within a matter of weeks. It is estimated that the damage to housing, communications, agriculture, electrical power generation and other forms of infrastructure will total over $5 billion. Just one example of the extent of the destruction: some 440,000 homes were damaged with 63,000 totally demolished. The Bush administration offered $100,000 in aid but only if a US "assessment" team could survey the damage.

Cuba responded that such "aid" wasn't needed, but it would be appropriate for the US to lift the economic blockade that prevents Cuba from easily purchasing the needed reconstruction materials.

Pastors for Peace is organizing a brigade of skilled workers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc. who will be working in Pinar del Rio province, one of the parts of the country impacted the most, to help the Cuban people with reconstruction. The brigade will be working for two weeks at the end of October.

Cuba is known the world over for its generous acts of solidarity with other nations struck by natural disasters. For example, Cuban doctors are providing desperately needed health care to the people of Haiti, who sustained catastrophic losses from these same hurricanes.

Cuba needs your help. Can you please financially support the work of the construction brigade by sending a donation to IFCO/Pastors for Peace?

Contributions can be mailed to

IFCO at 418W. 145th St, NY, Ny 10031 or online at www.ifconews.org.
Please indicate HURRICANE RELIEF in the memo line.
For additional information, please call (212)926-5757.

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