The Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer made an urgent appeal this weekend to the international community to show solidarity with the most vulnerable sectors of the Cuban population, amid what he described as a "humanitarian emergency" exacerbated by the regime's repression.
In a message shared on social media, Ferrer denounced that since April 1, repressive forces of the Cuban regime have maintained a tight perimeter around his home in Santiago de Cuba, with the aim of preventing the distribution of food and basic medical care to people in extreme need.
"Upon exiting prison on January 16 of this year, after three and a half years of total and arbitrary isolation, I found that hundreds of elderly, sick, and vulnerable individuals are at risk of dying due to a lack of proper food or medical care," Ferrer stated.
Since then, along with his wife, Dr. Nelva Ortega, and a group of collaborators, he has attempted to alleviate these shortcomings despite the constant arrests, threats, and confiscations experienced at the hands of State Security and the Revolutionary National Police.
The leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) and president of the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba stated that the harassment against his humanitarian work is not new.
He recalled that in 2021 they experienced a similar siege that lasted for 26 days and was only lifted after a massive hunger strike, the intervention of religious leaders, and expressions of support from abroad. Months later, he was imprisoned.
In light of the repeated use of these repressive tactics, Ferrer invited representatives of the Catholic Church, diplomatic delegations from democratic countries accredited in Cuba, evangelical churches, and people of good will to visit his home to directly witness the situation they are facing.
“In Cuba, people are dying from malnutrition and lack of medical care before the eyes of a world that continues to be unsupportive of the people suffering under the longest and most cruel dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere,” he stated.
The activist reiterated his call for international support and urged diplomatic pressure on the Cuban regime, which he blames for even obstructing the most vulnerable from accessing basic humanitarian aid.
Repression doesn't stop him: Ferrer continues to help those in need in Santiago
Since his release on January 16, 2025, after nearly three and a half years in prison, José Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU), has intensified his efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in Santiago de Cuba.
Together with his wife, Dr. Nelva Ismaray Ortega, they have provided food and basic medical care to dozens of citizens in precarious situations.
However, these actions have been subject to increasing repression by the Cuban regime.
At the end of February 2025, Ferrer reported that State Security and the National Revolutionary Police intensified the harassment against his surroundings, citing, threatening, and detaining individuals who frequented his home. Additionally, reports of arbitrary confiscations of personal belongings and constant surveillance around his residence were noted.
In March, the situation worsened when the regime organized propaganda events in front of the UNPACU headquarters in the Altamira neighborhood, using teachers and university students who were forced to participate.
Simultaneously, Ferrer and his team continued their humanitarian work, managing to feed over a thousand people in a single day thanks to the support of exiled Cubans.
Despite the efforts of UNPACU, the food crisis in Santiago de Cuba persists. Many needy people do not remember the last time they received basic goods such as chicken, fish, or eggs through the ration book.
On April 1, 2025, Ferrer reported an oppressive cordon around his home, with the presence of agents from the Revolutionary National Police and State Security personnel, who harass individuals trying to seek help.
This situation has sparked outrage in the international community. The United States government expressed its disapproval of the police harassment against Ferrer and those receiving assistance from UNPACU, urging the Cuban regime to protect its citizens instead of repressing them.
These actions reflect a pattern of systematic repression by the Cuban regime against opponents and activists seeking to alleviate the suffering of the population, highlighting the challenging human rights situation on the island.
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