The first of the flights has already arrived in Santiago de Cuba.
HAVANA, Cuba. — The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) announced this Friday the arrival of planes with humanitarian aid for the dioceses most affected by Hurricane Melissa, from the Archdiocese of Miami.
According to the COCC information note, a plane with resources for the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba has already been received. Additionally, this Saturday, November 15, another plane will arrive in Holguín to help those affected in that province. The document also indicates that, later, two other planes are expected: one for the diocese of Guantánamo-Baracoa, and another for Bayamo-Manzanillo.
The episcopal conference also specifies that “in the coming weeks, it is expected to be able to materialize the aid offered by the United States Administration, the processing and distribution of which will be carried out with the collaboration of the Caritas of both countries.”
In the note, the bishops of the dioceses affected by Hurricane Melissa presented to the assembly “the difficult situations they are experiencing and at the same time, the gestures of help and charity that they have been receiving since the first moments of the cyclone’s impact.”
The bishops stressed their gratitude to those who have sent resources from abroad and to the authorities who have facilitated their arrival and distribution: “The Catholic Bishops of Cuba thank all those who, with promptness and generosity, have once again looked with affection at this people and are contributing to alleviating so much pain.”
On the other hand, this Wednesday it emerged that Mike Hammer, head of the United States Mission in Cuba, had met with bishops from the eastern region “to better understand the needs of the population after Hurricane Melissa and to coordinate the $3 million in humanitarian assistance that the US Government is providing directly to the most affected Cubans.”
Previously, the State Department had announced that Washington, in coordination with the Catholic Church, would distribute $3 million in humanitarian aid “directly to the people in eastern Cuba most affected by the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.”
In parallel, the Cuban Government reported that it would accept the offer, channeled “through the United States Catholic Aid Service,” but stressed that this cooperation has been materialized “successfully in full coordination” with the authorities of the Island. “These humanitarian gestures are appreciated,” he added. the statement reproduced by the official newspaper Granma.
The vice prime minister and head of MINCEX, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, declared last Tuesday that, regarding the US contribution of 3 million dollars, “nothing has been received or materialized.” In that same intervention, he detailed that UN agencies and some 27 countries have sent supplies and equipment for the initial response.
The COCC also has reported that maintains “useful and positive conversations with all parties” to make the delivery effective, within the framework of a “catastrophic situation” in the eastern dioceses.
