The Government of Japan sent an emergency donation valued at approximately 182 thousand dollars to support Cuban families affected by Hurricane Melissa, which exacerbated the already precarious situation of thousands of households in the country.
The shipment, delivered this Friday at the Cargo Terminal of José Martí International Airport, includes water purifiers, blankets, tents, and mattresses, essential items for those who lost their homes or are still without access to essential services following the passage of the cyclone.
The aid was received by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Débora Rivas Saavedra, from the hands of the Japanese ambassador in Havana, Nakamura Kazuhito, and the representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ashida Tatsuya, according to a report by Canal Caribe.
During the event, the ambassador noted that the shipment is part of his country's ongoing cooperation with Cuba in times of disaster. “In these difficult moments, Japan stands with Cuba in a spirit of friendship and cooperation,” he said.
However, beyond diplomatic rhetoric, the Japanese aid arrives in a context where the social vulnerability of the Cuban population has become increasingly evident. Hurricane Melissa left a trail of destruction in homes, electrical networks, and rural roads, hitting communities that were already suffering from shortages of food, water, and construction materials.
The Embassy of Japan in Cuba had announced the donation days earlier, equivalent to 28 million yen (182,000 dollars), as a gesture of solidarity towards those affected. On social media, the diplomatic mission emphasized that the aid “represents the friendship and support of the Japanese people for the Cuban people.”
For its part, JICA in Havana emphasized that cooperation "is a human act that goes beyond the technical and financial," and affirmed its commitment to support communities "in reconstruction and hope."
Japan's donation adds to the international support that several countries have offered to Cuba following Hurricane Melissa, including Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Colombia.
However, the country continues to face enormous logistical and economic challenges in delivering aid to the most affected areas, amid a collapsed state infrastructure and a deep humanitarian crisis.
While the Cuban government merely expresses gratitude for foreign donations, the reconstruction in the affected provinces is progressing slowly, and thousands of families are still waiting for an effective response.
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