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The Brazilian government is considering the dispatch of a humanitarian aid shipment to Cuba, focused on medicines and basic supplies, amid the economic and health crisis facing the island.
Prensa Latina, citing the portal Brasil de Fato, stated that the Brazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development indicated that the action would be coordinated by the Brazilian Agency for Cooperation, which is under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Ministry explained that the program is part of initiatives agreed upon during President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to Havana for the G77 plus China Summit, a covert way of continuing to finance the Cuban regime.
In September 2025, during a high-level meeting on food sovereignty held in the Cuban capital, opportunities for bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral cooperation were identified with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.
To follow up on those commitments, a Bilateral Working Group was established in December.
Since 2023, Brazil has donated medicines, sanitary supplies, and vaccines to Cuba, as well as water purification equipment, strategic first aid kits, and dehydrated food following the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa last October.
It has also supported the response to an arbovirus outbreak by providing insecticides, rapid tests, and fumigation equipment.
In parallel, Brazilian social movements are launching solidarity campaigns to send medications to the island.
TeleSur reported that the Movement of Landless Rural Workers is leading an initiative to raise funds and purchase medications at wholesale prices from Brazilian laboratories, with the aim of making regular air shipments throughout the year.
João Pedro Stédile, national leader of the MST, stated that U.S. sanctions hinder the purchase of medications in the international market and urged to strengthen solidarity with the Cuban people.
The involved organizations also urged the government of Lula da Silva to take a more active role and facilitate the supply of fuel and food.
The potential Brazilian assistance comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 29 that imposes tariffs on those who supply or sell oil to Cuba, a measure intended to increase pressure on the Cuban regime amid the energy crisis facing the country.
In this regard, Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren recently confirmed that Chile will allocate 1 million dollars in humanitarian aid for Cuba —equivalent to 862 million Chilean pesos—amid the energy and fuel crisis affecting the island.
The official emphasized that the contribution does not imply political support for the Cuban government, as reported by Chilean media.
Van Klaveren specified that the aid will be channeled through UNICEF and not delivered to Cuban authorities.
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