Practice exercises meant to reduce community vulnerability, with an emphasis on prevention, to strengthen the country's ability to confront hurricanes, earthquakes, drought, and epidemics, were successfully conducted across the island this weekend, May 14-15.

In Havana, the focus was on clean-up along rivers and ditches in several municipalities to facilitate drainage and limit Aedes mosquito infestation, as well as prevent flooding in the event of heavy rainfall.

Current drought conditions were also addressed, and Mercedes López Acea, Political Bureau member and president of Havana's provincial Civil Defense Council, visited the site of work underway to rehabilitate a 500 meter stretch of aqueduct to benefit residents of Playa, La Lisa and Marianao who have been facing water shortages.

She commented that, in her opinion, the exercises had been effective in the capital, allowing for the evaluation of steps taken to improve readiness to respond to severe weather phenomenon, and deal with the epidemiological situation. She likewise noted the population's participation in clean up efforts.