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The travel agency Cubamax Travel, based in Miami, announced the operation of two completely free humanitarian flights to Holguín on November 13 and 16, in collaboration with Eastern Air Express and Aerocuba Chárter, to deliver aid to families affected by the passage of the hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba.
According to the official announcement from the company on , tickets will be free of charge for individuals traveling to assist and provide direct help to their relatives.
Additionally, each passenger will be able to carry as much assistance as they wish and include a free 70-pound suitcase, courtesy of Cubamax.
"Because when families are in need, Cubamax responds," concludes the agency's message, inviting those interested to visit any of its offices in Hialeah to request tickets.
The humanitarian gesture arrives at a time when thousands of Cubans in the eastern part of the Island are trying to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which left severe flooding, destroyed homes, and communities cut off for several days.
Although authorities claim that "recovery efforts are underway," the reality on the ground remains dire: families who have lost everything, extreme shortages of food, medicine, and building materials, and an exhausted population facing disaster with barely any resources.
In a country where the average salary barely covers basic needs and prices continue to soar, the possibility of rebuilding a house or replacing lost belongings is practically nonexistent. That is why assistance arriving from abroad—whether in the form of flights, donations, or remittances—has become the only real relief for many.
The initiative by Cubamax adds to other expressions of solidarity from Cubans living abroad, who have organized collections and shipments of supplies to assist the most devastated areas.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government has been criticized for its inefficiency in emergency management and the lack of genuine support for those affected, a situation that follows the same pattern after each major weather event.
Background and Controversies
Cubamax, founded in 2001 and with 13 branches in Florida, has faced protests from the Cuban exile community, which accuses it of maintaining ties with the regime in Havana.
In July, a group of protesters gathered in front of its headquarters in Hialeah to denounce alleged resource shipments to the regime and demand the release of political prisoners.
Although there are no official sanctions from the United States government against the agency, and the accusations have not been substantiated, the debate regarding its role remains ongoing.
In April, Cubamax temporarily suspended remittance shipments to Cuba, citing a "restructuring" related to the companies that process money on the Island, after the Department of State included Orbit S.A., its main intermediary, on the list of entities linked to the military conglomerate GAESA.
Beyond the controversy, the current decision to facilitate free flights to deliver humanitarian aid once again places Cubamax at the center of the conversation about the role of the exile community in the daily survival of Cubans on the Island.
While the State continues to fail to provide effective solutions, it is private solidarity that once again supports, albeit temporarily, a country immersed in neglect.
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