Charity appeals for medical equipment for Cuba

A charity is appealing for donations to support hospitals in Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.

The category two storm left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean, causing landslides and widespread flooding in Cuba, where the authorities said more than 700,000 people were evacuated.

The Reverend John Beynon, from the Jacob's Well Appeal in Beverley, said hospitals in the country were already short of medicine and supplies, but following Hurricane Melissa the situation was "absolutely desperate".

The charity, which has been sending medical aid to Cuba for the last two years, has put out a special appeal for money and medical equipment which will be sent out in the next two weeks.

"People's houses have blown down. People have nowhere to live, and so people are living on the streets. People were injured with flying debris," Mr Benyon said.

"In a hospital… when you get three, four times the number of people in to be treated and you have nothing to give them, it's absolutely desperate," he said.

Among the items the charity will be sending across in a container is vital medical equipment such as medicine, bandages, crutches and wheelchairs.

The hospitals in Cuba in contact with Mr Beynon pleaded: "Please prioritize us and send us as much as you can".

The charity said the appeal had had a slow start but is hoping that hospitals and businesses will donate medical equipment that would otherwise end up in landfill.

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