Although official figures have not yet been detailed, international aid amounts to millions of dollars.
MIAMI.- The external response to the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa continues to grow. In recent days, the Government of India and several international organizations activated new emergency shipments destined for the affected areas in Cuba and Jamaica.
From New Delhi, Indian authorities confirmed the departure of an Air Force plane loaded with 20 tons of supplies. The shipment includes the Aarogya Maitri BHISHM Cube modular medical system, designed to deploy immediate healthcare in disaster scenarios, in addition to food, medicines, generators, hygiene kits and temporary shelters.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed on social networks that his country “will continue to support its partners in the Global South” in recovery efforts, highlighting that this initiative is part of the international cooperation program “Aarogya Maitri” (Friendship in Health), focused on strengthening the response to emergencies inside and outside India. The Cuban government officially thanked the gesture.
Meanwhile, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delivered another shipment of 20 tons of humanitarian aid to Santiago de Cuba, from the logistics center that the organization maintains in Panama. The assistance – cooking, rest and hygiene kits, tools, tarps, solar lamps and mosquito nets – is intended for about 1,500 people.
As reported by Marianna Kuttothara, IFRC regional head of Disasters and Crisis, this is only the first operation within the response plan valued at 18 million dollars and projected to help 100,000 Cubans in the next two years.
Millions of dollars in resources mobilized
Although official figures have not yet been detailed, international aid amounts to millions of dollars. The UN allocated four million from the Central Emergency Fund, while UNICEF prepares to send medical supplies for about $500,000. China will provide a thousand family kits, valued at around $300,000.
Colombia finalizes the dispatch of the ARC Victoria ship, with 240 tons of food, fuel and water, and Panama—together with PAHO—will send 2.6 tons of health supplies. Venezuela reported the shipment of between 26 and 46 tons of materials valued at nearly $600,000. Canada announced a contribution of several million.
Germany and Norway contributed $330,000 and $400,000, respectively, while the London-based Cuba Solidarity campaign gave $64,000.
The European Union approved a package of 21.5 million euros for the Caribbean. Of these, five million will go specifically to affected areas in Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba.
Added to these efforts is the announcement of three million dollars in US aid, which will reach the victims through the Cuban Catholic Church.
