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The Cuban regime has harshly criticized the recent shipment of humanitarian aid from the United States to the victims of Hurricane Melissa.
Consider that this is an operation characterized by “political manipulation” and opportunism, even though the goods are received in the country and distributed in affected communities in the eastern part of the island.
Through an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) on January 14, Cuban authorities accused Washington of using the tragedy caused by the hurricane as a tool to strengthen its political rhetoric and discredit the government of Havana.
“The U.S. government is taking advantage of what appears to be a humanitarian gesture for opportunistic purposes and political manipulation,” stated the MINREX.
Assistance without official coordination
The document from the Cuban government states that, despite the public announcements from the State Department regarding the sending of aid, there was never an official communication channel between the governments to coordinate the operation.
Critics argue that Cuban authorities learned of the initiative through the Cuban Catholic Church, which informed them that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops would act as a channel to send material assistance funded by the Trump Administration.
"As a principle, Cuba does not oppose assistance from governments or organizations, as long as it benefits the people and the needs of the affected are not exploited for political gain under the guise of a humanitarian gesture,” highlighted the statement.
The island's government reiterated that all humanitarian contributions, regardless of their origin, must go through the designated official channels for their receipt, organization, and distribution.
Organizations such as the Catholic Church and others with proven experience in emergency situations also participate in that framework.
Cuba accepted the donation under the principle of non-conditioning, considering it a demonstration of solidarity from the American people, whose taxes finance such funds.
The U.S. humanitarian operation: Flights, kits, and tensions
The humanitarian aid sent by the U.S. includes an initial shipment of 528 food kits and 660 hygiene kits, along with water treatment supplies, which arrived at Holguín International Airport this Wednesday.
Its distribution is managed by Cáritas Cuba, in coordination with humanitarian organizations affiliated with the Catholic Church.
According to the plans announced by the State Department, the initiative is part of a three million dollar disaster assistance package pledged by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Deliveries will be made through charter flights and vessels, reaching approximately 6,000 families in the most affected provinces: Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantánamo.
The plan includes, in addition to basic food items (rice, beans, oil, and sugar), essential items such as pots, sheets, blankets, and solar lanterns, as well as supplies for purifying and storing water.
According to Cáritas, the distribution will be carried out in accordance with its safeguarding principles, emphasizing dignity in treatment, transparency, and the protection of beneficiaries.
Washington justified the operation by stating that "extraordinary measures" were taken to ensure that aid reaches the Cuban people directly, without interference or diversion from the "illegitimate regime," a statement that has sparked backlash in Havana.
"The State Department may continue to lie about Cuba, but it cannot change the facts.", the MINREX responded in a defiant tone.
Political tension: Cuban-American congress members support the exclusion of the regime
The controversy has also been amplified by statements from Cuban-American congress members such as Carlos Giménez and María Elvira Salazar, who expressed their support for humanitarian aid but demanded that the Cuban government not have access to or control over the donations.
"We have all known for years that the murderous dictatorship in Cuba steals donations and then sells them back to the people at exorbitant prices," denounced Giménez.
Salazar, for his part, described the action by the United States as a strategy to "overcome the regime" and thereby directly support the Cuban people.
"The United States has always been generous to those who fight for freedom and democracy, including the oppressed people of Cuba. By standing against the regime, we support their struggle for freedom, not their oppressor," said the Republican legislator.
These statements reinforce Washington's intention to separate aid from the Cuban state apparatus, a position that directly contrasts with the island's government perspective, which deems the official channeling of any type of international cooperation as essential.
Context of disaster and prolonged emergency
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, struck eastern Cuba on October 29, 2025, leaving thousands displaced and causing severe damage to infrastructure, crops, electrical networks, telecommunications, and water pumping systems.
The situation further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis on an island that was already suffering from chronic food shortages, widespread blackouts, and economic decline.
After the hurricane passed, various countries and international organizations began to send emergency aid.
The arrival of U.S. donations, beyond their quantitative dimension—which represents only a fraction of the national and international effort according to the Cuban government—has now become a new point of diplomatic friction between Havana and Washington, in a context where both sides maintain irreconcilable rhetoric.
A recurring background
This episode refers to previous conflicts surrounding international aid to Cuba, where a lack of mutual trust and the politicization of disaster have shaped the tone of relations.
While Cuba insists on the sovereignty of its distribution mechanisms, the United States is promoting actions that exclude the Cuban state, under the justification of preventing diversions or manipulations.
Beyond the conflicting statements, the reality is that the victims of Hurricane Melissa still need urgent and sustained help, regardless of the political interests at stake.
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