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The United States Embassy in Cuba celebrated that the humanitarian aid sent to the victims of Hurricane Melissa is already reaching “those in greatest need” and stated that, if the distribution goes well, “more will come”.
The message was posted on X amid the start and expansion of the distribution of food and hygiene modules in communities in the eastern part of the Island, coordinated by the Catholic Church and Cáritas Cuba.
According to Cáritas Cuba, the distribution began at the San Pedro Apóstol Parish in the municipality of Cacocum, with the support of volunteers and community members, to deliver food and hygiene supplies to families affected by the cyclone.
The organization indicated that the modules are aimed at individuals who lost their homes, belongings, and regular access to essential resources following the passage of Melissa in October.
The delivery is part of a broader effort that includes several shipments from the United States, intended for approximately 6,000 families belonging to the dioceses of Bayamo-Manzanillo, Holguín-Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo-Baracoa, according to information released by Cáritas itself.
In this context, a second plane with humanitarian aid arrived at Antonio Maceo International Airport in Santiago de Cuba, carrying 528 kits of non-perishable food and 660 hygiene kits.
That shipment was added to an initial cargo that had already arrived earlier at Holguín airport with equivalent amounts.
The document adds that the U.S. government announced a total of three shipments for those affected: two by air and one by sea.
According to a statement from the State Department cited in the text, the shipments are part of a $3 million package committed for disaster assistance, estimated to reach up to 24,000 people in the most affected provinces: Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Guantánamo.
In addition to basic necessities for survival (such as rice, beans, oil, and sugar), the shipments include supplies for purifying and storing water as well as essential household items, including pots, cooking utensils, sheets, blankets, and solar lanterns to cope with power outages.
Cáritas emphasized that the shipment represents a gesture of charity and solidarity and highlighted the role of local volunteers in ensuring that aid reaches families “directly.”
In contrast, the Cuban government questioned the aid, accusing Washington of using the tragedy for "political manipulation" and stating that there was no official coordination between the two governments; Havana insisted that all humanitarian contributions must go through state channels.
Nevertheless, aid is being received and distributed in communities in the east that are still facing the aftermath of the hurricane.
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