Havana/The Government of Cuba described this Monday as “positive” the cooperation linked to the humanitarian work of the Catholic Church on the Island, after receiving its offer to coordinate the distribution of a donation of three million dollars from the United States for the victims of Hurricane Melissa.
A note from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment published by the official press refers to the fact that this offer of material assistance that the Government of Washington would provide through the Catholic service of the United States “is added to that of other religious organizations in that country.”
“There is also, separately, but with the same purpose, an offer that the Archdiocese of the city of Miami would contribute through its own efforts through the Catholic Church of Cuba,” the text indicates.
“We have a positive experience of years of cooperation linked to the humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in Cuba, which has been successfully carried out in full coordination with our authorities and in accordance with the requirements that adjust to the evaluation of damages and most urgent needs,” he emphasizes.
“We have a positive experience of years of cooperation linked to the humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in Cuba, which has been successfully carried out in full coordination with our authorities”
The text, which appreciates “these humanitarian gestures” and highlights that “as happens with aid from various parts of the world, including that of other religious organizations in the United States itself”, the “authorities” – it underlines in bold – “work to channel the contribution in the fastest and most efficient way, so that it quickly reaches the populations and territories in need.”
The Government thus seems to want to emphasize the idea that it will not be outside the humanitarian aid received by the country, not even that which arrives from the neighboring country, even if it is non-governmental.
Aid from the United States had once again become a political battleground between the two countries in recent days. The United States stated last week that it was willing to support the Cuban people on condition that the regime remained on the sidelines, and the island’s authorities said they were willing to listen to the offer, as long as it was respectful of their “sovereignty.”
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (Cocc) was the first to offer itself informally as a way to facilitate an agreement and this Sunday, officially, it reported that it had received “a humanitarian offer from the US Administration, which passes through institutions of the Catholic Church in that country, to directly help the victims.”
The bishops assured that they were “holding useful and positive conversations with all parties” so that this assistance would become a “reality.”
To these shipments we must add those that have arrived – or are about to arrive – from the International Red Cross, Venezuela, Colombia or the European Union. The balance made this Monday by the Presidency places 120,000 evacuees after the passage of Melissa and as a result of the flooding associated with the meteor.
In addition, a total of 45,282 homes were damaged and the subsidies promised by the Government only cover 50% of the materials to rehabilitate them.
In addition, a total of 45,282 homes were damaged and the subsidies promised by the Government only cover 50% of the materials to rehabilitate them. Taking into account that many residents were still waiting for subsidies or resources to do the same after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, distrust is high.
The governor of Granma, Yanetsy Terry, indicated that a drop in the waters of the Cauto River is already being detected, which represents partial relief after days of rescues due to the overflowing of the channels.
A total of 1,552 schools have been damaged, of which 200 have already been recovered. This, together with the fact that many schools are being used as reception centers, will cause the return to normality to be “asymmetrical, based on the conditions and alternatives,” said the Minister of Education, Naima Ariatne Trujillo.
As for other infrastructures, in the Health sector, 461 affected facilities were reported, including hospitals, polyclinics, offices, pharmacies and others.
In agriculture, for its part, preliminary damage has been recorded in 78,700 hectares, more than half in bananas.
