Havana/Washington - While hurricanes Ike and Gustav wreaked death and devastation across both countries, neither Cuba nor the United States showed any sign this week of putting aside differences to help in reconstruction.
Between Ike and Gustav, Cuba's agriculture will need to be rebuilt in at least two provinces, and 100,000 homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, Cuban officials have said.
Combined damage is estimated at around 5 billion dollars.
Havana - Cuban President Raul Castro on Wednesday appeared in public for the first time after hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated the communist Caribbean island to the tune of an estimated 5 billion dollars.
"I ask that you keep your optimism, that hope. Let that spirit not fall because that would be the worst, the demoralization would set in," Castro said as he toured the Isle of Youth.
Havana - Even as Ike continued to wreak destruction across Texas on Saturday, its costs were still being tallied, as Cuba reported another three deaths from the storm.
The general staff of the Cuban military said the death toll had risen to seven, up from the four deaths reported earlier this week.
It estimated damages in the billions of dollars, but said it had not yet been able to tally a final overview.
More than 100,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged.
Havana - Hurricane-hit Cuba on Thursday accused the United States of lying about its conditional offers to help the communist country as it struggles to recover and rebuild.
"The United States government is behaving cynically. It tries to suggest that it is desperate to cooperate with Cuba, and that we refuse. They lie unscrupulously," the Cuban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Havana - While most Cubans breathed a sigh of relief following the exit of the latest tropical storm to hit the island, a small group of youths was anxiously waiting the arrival of the next such phenomenon.
There are not many surfers in Cuba yet, but they strive to promote a sport that remains underdeveloped in a country where physical exercise is generally highly valued.
Havana/Port-au-Prince/Miami - With nearly one-tenth of its population evacuated to safety, the whole of Cuba was in a state of emergency over Hurricane Ike Monday, with sustained winds of 130 kilometres per hour and higher gusts lashing the Caribbean island.
Ike has already left 72 dead in Haiti, bringing to 300 the poverty-stricken country's death toll from four tropical storms and hurricanes this season.
Havana/Washington - While hurricanes Ike and Gustav wreaked death and devastation across both countries, neither Cuba nor the United States showed any sign this week of putting aside differences to help in reconstruction.
Havana - Cuban President Raul Castro on Wednesday appeared in public for the first time after hurricanes Gustav and Ike devastated the communist Caribbean island to the tune of an estimated 5 billion dollars.
Havana - Even as Ike continued to wreak destruction across Texas on Saturday, its costs were still being tallied, as Cuba reported another three deaths from the storm.
Havana - Hurricane-hit Cuba on Thursday accused the United States of lying about its conditional offers to help the communist country as it struggles to recover and rebuild.
Havana - While most Cubans breathed a sigh of relief following the exit of the latest tropical storm to hit the island, a small group of youths was anxiously waiting the arrival of the next such phenomenon.
Havana/Port-au-Prince/Miami - With nearly one-tenth of its population evacuated to safety, the whole of Cuba was in a state of emergency over Hurricane Ike Monday, with sustained winds of 130 kilometres per hour and higher gusts lashing the Caribbean island.
