The Cuban regime received a shipment of 100 electric generators donated by the American organization People’s Forum NYC, aimed at alleviating the energy crisis facing the island following the passage of hurricanes Rafael and Oscar.
This aid, delivered in three shipments over the past 10 days, will be used to keep hospitals, polyclinics, and other institutions in provinces such as Guantánamo, Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana operational, which have been severely affected by power outages, according to a report from the official Televisión Cubana.
“These power plants are arriving at a very opportune moment for the recovery of the country’s power system following the passage of two hurricanes in such a short period of time,” said Déborah Rivas Saavedra, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, at the airport.
According to the official, the generators will be allocated "for recovery activities in the most affected areas of the western provinces."
"Its use is immediate and multifaceted, always serving basic needs for the Cuban population, including food preparation centers, warehouses for distributing products to those affected, hospital and polyclinic guard services, and for the vitality of communications," he added.
For his part, Miguel Díaz-Canel celebrated the arrival of the aid on his social media, where he wrote: “Solidarity also comes from the American people. People’s Forum NYC has donated 100 electric generators in 10 days.”
The ruler, a close friend of the executive co-director of the organization The People’s Forum, activist Manolo de los Santos, admitted in his words that the much-talked-about "blockade" is more a rhetorical device in the dictatorship's discourse than a "suffocating policy" from the neighboring country.
The supportive gesture of the organization affiliated with the Cuban totalitarian regime exposes an evident contradiction in the official discourse, which has maintained for decades that the U.S. "blockade" is the primary cause of the island's structural and economic failures.
"Cuba expresses its gratitude for this show of support that transcends the barriers of the U.S. blockade. The People’s Forum represents the solidarity of the people of New York and, by extension, that of the United States, demonstrating that a better relationship with that country is possible," Rivas Saavedra concluded in his speech.
Donations that challenge the argument of the "blockade"
While Cuban authorities incessantly assert that the U.S. embargo hinders development and is the cause of shortages in key sectors, the ongoing arrival of humanitarian aid from the United States contradicts this narrative.
In addition to the recent donation of generators, in previous months, other entities and organizations from the United States have provided support in the form of food, medical supplies, and generators, demonstrating that, despite the restrictions of the embargo, the solidarity of the American people towards Cubans remains evident.
This contrast between the official discourse and reality is also reflected in other international aid. Countries like Venezuela, Canada, and Norway have contributed supplies and funds to support communities affected by natural disasters.
However, Cuban authorities continue to present the "blockade" as the insurmountable barrier that impacts the well-being of the nation.
Internal actions that sow doubt
While the arrival of donations like the one from The People’s Forum NYC is a reason for gratitude and recognition, the management of aid by Cuban authorities raises concerns within civil society.
Earlier this year, the Cuban State Security confiscated donations intended for vulnerable children and families from independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, highlighting the strict control that the government exerts over resources entering the country and raising doubts about the transparency of the aid distribution.
U.S. donations to Cuba reach their highest level in the last 10 years.
Humanitarian donations made by organizations in the United States to Cuba increased this year compared to the previous year, reaching the highest level since 2014.
The information was provided in mid-September by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council (USCTEC), highlighting that the amount reached by July 2024 was already higher than the donations received in 2023, and that the statistics did not include donations or personal gifts (made by travelers on flights and through third countries).
The registered donations included, among others, items such as food, medical supplies, clothing, and reading materials. So far in 2024, the total amount of these donations has reached over 38 million dollars (US$38,907,503.00).
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