Cuba reiterated this Monday its “deep gratitude” to Colombia after receiving more than 142.5 tons of humanitarian aid for the victims of Hurricane Ian, which hit the west of the island in September 2022.
At the reception ceremony, the first deputy minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Mincex) of Cuba, Ana Teresita González Fraga, highlighted the “gesture of solidarity” of the Colombian government headed by Gustavo Petro and called to “strengthen” the links between the two countries, according to the agency efe.
Our deep gratitude to the people and government of #Colombia for sending humanitarian aid to #Cuba, in solidarity with the families affected by Hurricane Ian and in support of the recovery efforts. ???? https://t.co/5LGF9YoRzz
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) January 11, 2023
In this sense, Javier Pava Sánchez, general director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management of the Andean country, assured that this shipment marks the “beginning of new joint relations” and called for expanding collaboration to combat the climate crisis and its effects. .
The humanitarian aid shipment includes, among other supplies, water tanks and construction materials, zinc roof tiles and metal ties.
It also includes 5,000 kitchen modules and another 3,000 bedding and household items, according to a report of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The shipment arrived a few days ago at the port of Mariel, on the outskirts of Havana and, according to Pava Sánchez, it should benefit some 2,000 pine forest families, in which approximately 13,000 people are grouped.
It is not the first time that Colombia sends aid to Cuba in disaster situations. Following the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base sent human skin tissue for the care and recovery of the people affected by the accident.
Colombia will export meat and other products of animal origin to Cuba
Hurricane Ian crossed the western tip of Cuba on September 27 and, according to official figures, left three fatalities -two other people died in recovery efforts-, more than 100,000 homes affected and considerable damage to thousands of hectares of crops , mainly in tobacco plantations.
As a result of the hurricane, the national electrical system completely collapsed, which took days to return to offer a stable service to the majority of the Cuban population.
Efe/OnCuba.
