The Embassy of the United States in Cuba shared a video featuring its Chief of Mission, Mike Hammer, touring communities in the eastern part of the country and talking with volunteers from Cáritas Cuba, amid the economic crisis that is affecting thousands of families on the Island.
In the audiovisual shared on social media, Hammer asserts that he continues "traveling the country to meet everyday Cubans" and emphasizes that the distribution of aid is carried out "with complete honesty and transparency."
"I want you to be certain that our work is done from the ground up... the decision was made by us," asserts the diplomat while speaking with volunteers from Cáritas in Guantánamo.
As explained in the video, the selection process for beneficiaries is carried out directly within the communities, in coordination with local priests, who identify the most vulnerable individuals.
"The diagnosis was made from the communities with the priest. They selected the people... the most in need," one can hear them say.
In the exchange, the volunteers mention that the beneficiaries are often elderly people living alone, mothers with several children, and single mothers, groups especially impacted by food scarcity, power outages, and lack of basic resources.
Hammer assures that it has been "nice" to hear from families confirming that the aid sent has been helpful, as it includes essential products aimed at addressing daily life in Cuba.
The video mentions items such as pressure cookers, rechargeable lamps, rice, beans, and water filters, in a country where cooking has become an odyssey due to the lack of electricity and gas, and where access to clean drinking water remains a constant concern.
"And it arrives, because we have done it many times," comments one of the volunteers, noting that this type of assistance is also prepared for recurring emergencies such as cyclones.
The Embassy's post also highlights the role of the volunteers from Caritas, mostly women, who, according to the message, "go to remote areas" to deliver the humanitarian aid sent by the U.S. government.
At the end of the exchange, Hammer thanks those involved in the distribution and describes it as a privilege to be able to help alleviate, even if only partially, the situation faced by the Cubans.
"For us, it is a privilege as the government of the United States to be able to offer and provide something to alleviate the situation a bit," he concludes.
The video was recorded during a tour of the eastern part of the country, which included visits to Cacocum, El Cobre, and Guantánamo, as reported by the diplomatic mission in its publication.
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