Published Monday, July 13, 1998, in the Miami Herald

Drought taking big toll on Cuba

Associated Press

A severe drought in Cuba has forced many people to leave their homes for other regions, while authorities in parched eastern communities have been delivering water by truck and animal, the Cuban government's news agency reported.

Rainfall in June was its lowest for the month in the last four decades, Prensa Latina reported, without giving specific figures. In the eastern province of Guantanamo, hundreds of acres of crops have been lost. Coffee and honey production have suffered, as have fishing and sugar cane harvesting.

Many people are temporarily relocating because of the drought, Prensa Latina said, citing Pedro Miret, the vice president of the Council of Ministers.

In areas where natural wells have run dry, water is being hauled in for thousands of people and livestock, the National Information Agency said in the report.

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