Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Barbara Lee (D-CA), chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Jim McGovern (D- MA), Chairman of the Rules Committee, issued a statement urging the Biden administration to provide assistance to Cuba following the devastating fires in Matanzas.
Their text says the following:
“We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Matanzas, Cuba, less than 150 miles from our border. Crises like this demand an urgent and significant response from neighboring countries.
“Today we call on the Biden administration to immediately offer adequate assistance and to facilitate international response efforts after the explosions at the Supertanker Base in Matanzas.
“We also urge the administration to suspend any relevant sanctions in order to accelerate that response and provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to the hundreds of Cuban citizens affected by this crisis, as well as many more facing multiple crises, including food shortages. , energy and medicines.
“We fear that the significant recovery efforts needed in Matanzas will push an already resource-strapped Cuba to the brink. Now is the time to put politics aside and prioritize humanitarian engagement, environmental protection and regional cooperation.”
