(EFE).- Cuba received more than 135 donations from Cuban associations and solidarity groups from 40 countries during the covid-19 pandemic worth 8.9 million dollars, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The general director of Consular Affairs and Attention to Cubans Resident Abroad of the Ministry, Ernesto Soberón, thanked the groups of emigrants from the island for their support during the pandemic -present in Cuba since March 2020- in an interview published in the Official site Cubadebate.
He explained that with these donations more than 10 million syringes and needles have arrived to support vaccination, as well as other supplies such as medicines, equipment for the detection of the coronavirus and means of protection for health personnel.
He explained that with these donations more than 10 million syringes and needles have arrived to support vaccination, as well as other supplies such as medicines, equipment for the detection of coronavirus and means of protection.
Soberón denounced the tightening of the economic embargo applied by the United States Government during the health crisis.
“The measures of economic, commercial and financial suffocation against our country have intensified. Because of these restrictions imposed by the US blockade, Cuba has been extremely hindered from acquiring essential medical supplies and materials in the confrontation and immunization against covid -19”, he stressed.
He stressed that in this situation, the country has received international aid and donations from governments, foreign companies, solidarity associations, Cubans living abroad and other friends, in order to support the Cuban public health system.
“Our nationals, in a personal capacity, and the associations of Cubans residing abroad, together with supportive friends, have made more than 135 offers of donations from 40 countries, which represent an amount of 8.9 million dollars,” precise.
Regarding ties with emigrants, he said that most Cubans abroad favor a “constructive relationship” with their country of origin and “the improvement of relations between Cuba and the United States.”
Similarly, he called the US embargo a “failed policy.”
The United States is home to the largest community of Cuban emigrants in the world, with more than 1.3 million people born on the island living on its territory, according to data from the 2019 Census Bureau of the North American country.
Soberón explained that there are currently 166 associations of Cubans residing abroad in 79 countries that support Cuba in its main international claims.
Soberón explained that there are currently 166 associations of Cubans residing abroad in 79 countries that support Cuba in its main international claims, and that in recent years around 72,000 people have regained their residence on the island.
In addition, he explained that, as part of the Government’s commitment to serve the community abroad, various actions have been carried out, such as monitoring and assistance to citizens who fell ill with covid-19 and the organization of charter flights that allowed them to return to the Island to more than 5,700 people who were stranded in 56 countries.
He also recalled that the possibility was established for residents who were abroad during the pandemic and whose passports expired, to be able to return without extending it, as well as the automatic extension of the document for Cubans who have spent more than 24 months outside the island. , legal limit allowed.
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