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The distribution in Cuba of a recent donation from Mexico has raised questions, after residents of Güira de Melena, in the province of Artemisa, reported that vulnerable families received only one package of cookies per household.
According to testimonies shared on Facebook, the aid was delivered under the supervision of local authorities, as is customary with donations that arrive in the country, which are channeled through state structures.
"I will always be grateful for any assistance received by the Cuban people; however, unfortunately, in Cuba, nothing reaches the people without first going through the oversight and distribution of the State," a user stated while sharing images of the product received.
The publication sparked debate among Cubans inside and outside the island regarding the management of humanitarian aid, which was segmented and designated only for the so-called "vulnerable groups", while the rest of the population, also in extreme vulnerability, will receive nothing.
Some internet users questioned that the population only receives a minimal amount of products, while others defended that, amidst the scarcity, any contribution is significant.
Mexico sent a donation of several tons of food that began to be distributed in various provinces of the island, according to institutional sources.
The arrival of this aid comes amid a widespread shortage of food and basic products, with markets running low on supplies and prices in the private sector out of reach for a large portion of the population.
The authorities have assured that the donations sent from Mexico will benefit vulnerable groups in the provinces of Artemisa, Havana, and Mayabeque, as well as in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud. It has also reached several provinces in the east, such as Las Tunas.
Mexico confirmed that it will continue providing humanitarian aid, including that managed by its citizens, who have organized food collections in the Zócalo and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), but will not send oil "for now," according to President Claudia Sheinbaum.
This means that, while food supplies are arriving, the energy and fuel crisis that keeps the country in blackouts and paralyzed services will continue to worsen the economic situation.
The fact that Cuba depends on external donations to meet basic food needs highlights the structural deterioration of its production system.
After years of inefficiency, poor management, and a lack of sustainable solutions, the country is facing a reality where large sectors of the population can barely meet their daily food needs.
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