According to IAN: Swiss cigar smokers donate CHF 45,000
After IAN (September 22): Swiss cigar retailers support Pinar del Rio, Cuba, with CHF 45,000 in donations after Hurricane IAN. On the initiative of Andreas Stachl, cigar retailer La Corona, and Thomas Portmann, La Casa del Habano St. Gallen by Urs Portmann, a flyer was printed and distributed to all cigar retailers in Switzerland to collect donations from customers. The importer Intertabak AG also actively helped to distribute the flyers with the message to the specialist retailers. However, without the support of Mark Kuster, founder of Camaquito (children's aid organization in Cuba), it would not have been possible to bring the building materials to Cuba and make them available to the tobacco farmers directly on site.
State of affairs, April 2023
As these lines are being written, the final preparations for shipping the material to Cuba are underway. They are due to arrive in Havana in a few weeks and will then be transported to the tobacco farmers in Pinar del Rio. The first construction work is already underway. Here are a few photos:
Video: The devastation
Video: Discussion on the current situation
Andi Stachl, owner of the La Corona cigar store, and Mark Kuster from the children's aid organization Camaquito talk about the current situation in Cuba. The video is in Swiss German.
Video: Hector Luis talks about the situation
The video is in Spanish.
Video: Hiroshi Robaina talks about the situation
The video is in Spanish.
An initiative for tobacco farmers
The money raised was then used for building materials, which were purchased in collaboration with the Cuban government. A total of CHF 45,000 was raised in donations.
The building materials will be delivered to Pinar del Rio during April / May 2023, where they will be used to rebuild the tobacco farmers' destroyed infrastructure. This initiative has helped to help the affected communities in Cuba and shows that there are also opportunities to make a positive contribution at an individual level.
Camaquito is a non-profit organization that works to promote education and improve the living conditions of children and young people in Cuba. After Hurricane IAN, Camaquito and its partners took action to help those affected in Pinar del Rio.
When did IAN devastate Cuba?
In September 2022, the devastating hurricane IAN devastated the Cuban region of Pinar del Rio and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Pinar del Rio is a province in western Cuba known for its picturesque landscape and tobacco cultivation. However, Hurricane IAN turned the lives of the people in this region completely upside down. Roads were flooded, trees and electricity pylons toppled and many houses were damaged or completely destroyed.
The storm hit the farmers in Pinar del Rio particularly hard. Tobacco growing, an important source of income for the region, was badly affected. The tobacco sheds were destroyed.
The residents of Pinar del Rio are still struggling with the consequences of IAN. Many families have lost their homes and some are still living in emergency shelters. The region's infrastructure was severely damaged and now needs to be rebuilt.
Despite the enormous challenges facing the people of Pinar del Rio, there are also positive developments. There is great solidarity within the community and there are numerous initiatives to help those affected. NGOs and government agencies have offered their help to support the reconstruction of the region.
Overall, it is clear that the effects of Hurricane IAN will be felt in Pinar del Rio and other parts of Cuba for a long time to come.
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Resources on the topic
La Casa del Habano St. Gallen by Urs Portmann
Video interview with Thomas Portmann on the current situation at the time
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