Cuba estimates Gustav, Ike damages at US$5 billion

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080916/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_cuba_gustav_and_ike;_ylt=ArDtKlcXCm4JYitBE_1A8Xu3IxIF

Cuba estimates Gustav, Ike damages at US$5 billion 33 minutes ago



HAVANA - Hurricanes Gustav and Ike together delivered the worst hurricane-related blow in Cuba's storm-battered history, causing "around US$5 billion" in collective damage, the communist government announced Monday night.

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Nearly 450,000 homes were damaged and more than 63,000 of those completely wiped out. At least 200,000 Cubans have been left homeless and "hundreds of more families" will have to find temporary housing while authorities work to rebuild, according to a statement that took more than half an hour to read during state television's nightly newscast.

"The country has been devastated in its economic, social and housing infrastructure like never before," the government said.