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The father José Joaquín Espino, rector of the National Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of Copper in Miami will travel to Holguín on a flight loaded with more than 30 tons of humanitarian aid aimed at those affected by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, as confirmed by journalist Mario J. Pentón in a report from Martí Noticias.
The priest, as he stated to Pentón, will personally accompany the shipment, which is part of an airbridge of the Catholic Church between southern Florida and the most affected dioceses on the Island.
Father Espino himself explained that the Catholic community in Miami is sending food, medicine, and other basic resources to the dioceses in the east, in a coordinated effort to respond to the severe destruction caused by Melissa: flooding, collapsed homes, isolated communities, and a humanitarian crisis that worsens day by day.
He emphasized that, in the event of an emergency of this type, the first organization to be activated in Cuba is Cáritas Cubana, serving as the charitable arm of the Church.
The flight that will now accompany the rector of La Ermita joins a first plane, which took off the previous Sunday with approximately 40 tons of aid destined for Santiago de Cuba.
Moreover, the Church succeeded in liberating and delivering a container of rice designated for Guantánamo, which had been held in Havana due to the proximity of the hurricane. In this way, the aid is being distributed in stages to various dioceses in the east.
Father Espino emphasized that none of these shipments go through state authorities. “What we send goes to the Church, and the Church distributes directly to those in need,” he stated, clarifying that the aid is channeled through ecclesiastical structures, without governmental mediation.
The rector added to Martí Noticias that the shipment accompanying Holguín will be received by Bishop Emilio Aranguren Echeverría: “I will be in Cuba for two hours at most. It will be delivered to Monsignor Emilio and that goes through the Church,” the outlet reported.
Despite the effort, the priest acknowledged that the arrival and distribution of aid faces serious logistical and economic challenges.
At this moment, all containers coming from the United States arrive exclusively at the port of Mariel, so it is necessary to transport them from there to the east, a process whose internal cost ranges between 3,000 and 4,000 dollars, as explained.
Additionally, between 30 and 40% of Cáritas staff have been suffering from chikungunya, which has reduced their ability to respond on the ground.
Espino mentioned Pentón also bureaucratic hurdles, such as the Cuban government's demands regarding packing lists, and the fear of some shipping companies to dock at ports confiscated by the regime, which has forced the design of complex and costly routes for cargo to reach the country.
However, he believes that, at this time of extreme crisis, the Cuban authorities "seem to understand the magnitude of the emergency" and are "quite open to assistance," in communication with the Conference of Bishops.
The Catholic Church in Cuba announced the dispatch of four planes with humanitarian aid from Miami for the dioceses most affected by Hurricane Melissa in the eastern part of the country.
According to a news release from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC), the first plane carrying resources has arrived in Santiago de Cuba, and a second flight will arrive in Holguín on Saturday, November 15.
Subsequently, two more planes will take off, one destined for the diocese of Guantánamo–Baracoa and the other for Bayamo–Manzanillo.
The bishops explained that this assistance is the result of the "fraternal love of the Archdiocese of Miami," which has mobilized to support the communities devastated by the cyclone.
The operation is coordinated through Cáritas Cuba, in collaboration with Cáritas from other countries and sister churches, which have sent and will continue to send resources to the dioceses affected by the hurricane.
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