Havana - The World Food Program (WFP) representative in Cuba, Laura Melo, highlighted today the low levels of human losses and efficient early warning systems in the country in the face of natural disasters.

With regard to World Food Day this October 16, Melo said that WFP accompanies the Caribbean island in national social protection programs, including those based on food.

These are among the most efficient in the region and guarantee the stability of feeding the most vulnerable people in both normal and disaster situations, she added in a message posted on the Cubadebate site.

She said that children, pregnant and lactating women and the elderly have access to safe food in kindergartens, schools, maternity waiting facilities and nursing homes, or in family care systems.

In times of hurricanes or droughts, where food availability is low, that stable food prevents deterioration of their nutritional status, she said.

Melo recalled that since 1963 the United Nations specialized agency has performed more than 20 operations worth more than 33 million dollars.

In her message, she mentioned that after Hurricane Irma passed in September of this year, the WFP complement to the government's response already benefits some 600,000 people in municipalities in the center of the country.

In that sense, she assured that the aid complements the food needs of those who lost all or a large part of their belongings.

The WFP representative said that Cuba is recovering, but the consequences in the medium and long term are a great challenge and 'postpone opportunities for visible economic growth in family income.'

WFP is a humanitarian organization founded in 1961 that maintains the fight against hunger in the world. According to its website, each year it assists an average of 80 million people in more than 80 countries.