Havana Cuba. – On October 18, the United States Department of State ad that would deliver two million dollars in humanitarian aid to Cuba for the recovery of communities devastated by Hurricane Ian.
CubaNet spoke by telephone with an official from the United States Department of State to inquire about the aid and its implications. The spokeswoman in question requested anonymity.
-What does this aid consist of? Through what specific organizations will it be sent to Cuba?
―With the support of USAID, the International Federation of Red Cross Societies (IFRC) and its executing partner, the Cuban Red Cross (CRC), will deliver tool kits for the construction of shelters and roofs, which are currently in production. The content of these packages is based on the structures of the roofs of the houses of Pinar del Río. The CRC will also distribute emergency items, such as kitchen sets, hygiene items and solar lamps, to help maintain the health, dignity and safety of affected households. We accompany the Cuban people in their efforts to recover from this disaster.
-You stated that the aid would be delivered by independent non-governmental organizations; however, the Cuban Red Cross is part of the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba, that is, in some way it is related to or depends on the Cuban Government. on other occasions It has been denounced that humanitarian aid passes through supposedly independent organizations or civil society but with some kind of relationship with the Government because the Cuban regime has even sold this humanitarian aid to the population. What guarantees do they have of not falling into this trap?
―This humanitarian aid will be delivered directly to the Cuban people through trusted public international organizations. USAID has provided $2 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide emergency aid to communities affected by the hurricane. The IFRC, as the Federation of National Red Cross Societies, works directly with the Cuban Red Cross as its implementing partner. This is a standard template that the IFRC and national Red Cross societies use around the world.
The Cuban Red Cross adheres to the same fundamental principles of independence as the IFRC. The IFRC and the Cuban Red Cross will work together to provide the assistance.
The IFRC is an independent and trusted organization operating in the country with a longstanding presence in communities affected by the hurricane. This group is working directly with the Cuban people, whose communities were devastated by Hurricane Ian.
USAID considered faith-based organizations as implementing partners in the United States Government’s humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Today, we have partnered with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for their model of trust and longstanding presence in providing lifesaving assistance to people in communities affected by the hurricane.
Like all USAID partners, the IFRC is bound by appropriate and strict monitoring rules, and its criteria include independence of beneficiary selection and verification. We are working with trusted international partners who have a long history of working directly with the Cuban people to provide direct humanitarian assistance.
“In recent months we have seen a reduction in sanctions against Cuba by the United States: more flights to the island were allowed, fewer restrictions on remittances were established, investment in “private” companies was allowed, the Embassy in La Havana, consular processes restarted after five years of interruption, and now humanitarian aid. Does this mean that we are facing a reestablishment of relations between both governments?
―We are providing much-needed humanitarian aid to the Cuban people and disaster response following the devastation of Hurricane Ian. We stand with the Cuban people and will continue to seek ways to support them, to improve their political and economic well-being, in accordance with United States laws and regulations.
Since the beginning of 2021, we have prioritized the review of applications for licenses to export goods of private origin or donated to the Cuban people, specifically focusing on agricultural and medical exports from the United States to Cuba.
The United States embargo on Cuba includes exemptions and authorizations related to the export of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods, as well as for disaster response.
As articulated throughout the Administration, including in the President’s May 16 announcement, the Biden Administration’s policy toward Cuba centers on support for human rights and the political and economic well-being of the Cuban people. We continue to call for the release of all political prisoners and respect for human rights on the Island. We are committed to engaging in constructive discussions with the Government of Cuba when appropriate to advance US interests, and we are in regular communication with the Cuban Government officials through our Embassy in Havana and the Office of the Coordinator of Cuban Affairs in Washington, DC
―Why help a country contrary to the interests of the United States, which is even an ally of Russia and of dictatorships such as Venezuela and Nicaragua?
―This is a humanitarian disaster, and we around the world work with many different governments to provide humanitarian assistance. In general, we work with many governments with which we do not have very good relations, but we provide them with humanitarian assistance to help the populations.
As the United States has done on many occasions, in countries around the world, we are responding to a catastrophe in Cuba, working with our international humanitarian partners to provide vital assistance directly to those most in need.
In addition to providing humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people, our Administration remains committed to increasing humanitarian exports that flow directly from the United States to the Cuban people, given the serious humanitarian situation on the Island.
Since early 2021, the Administration has prioritized and facilitated the export of goods of private origin or donated to the Cuban people, specifically focusing on agricultural and medical exports from the United States to Cuba. We have facilitated efforts by the US private sector, faith-based organizations, and other non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian support to the Cuban people, and have provided guidance to individuals and entities seeking to export to Cuba for the first time.
But our first priority is to promote accountability for human rights abuses, for which we have announced several rounds of sanctions targeting those individuals and entities with direct links to human rights abuses. We continue to condemn these abuses and demand the release of the hundreds of imprisoned protesters and activists. Additionally, the President has directed us to explore meaningful ways to support the Cuban people.
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