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While in Cuba blackouts are impacting hospitals, food is scarce, and more families rely on donations to survive, in the Cayman Islands several community groups have decided to take action on their own. Without any announcement of government support, residents of this Caribbean territory are collecting medicines, food, and funds to send to the island.
The initiative was reported by the local media Cayman Compass, which on February 23 reported on the increasing citizen effort in response to the deteriorating conditions in Cuba.
The solidarity impulse arrives at a particularly delicate moment. On February 13, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned from Geneva that the socioeconomic crisis on the island is deepening.
According to the UN, the fuel shortage is disrupting power generation, affecting intensive care units, emergency rooms, vaccine storage, and water pumping systems. The blackouts are also impacting food distribution and social assistance programs.
In light of that scenario, several initiatives have emerged in Caimán.
One of them is Blue Unicorn, which is collecting medical supplies to send directly to healthcare professionals in Cuba. Its founder, the Cuban Marlon Alejandro Riera Tabares, who has been living in Cayman for eight years, told the mentioned media that the effort is driven by humanitarian motivation.
The group is requesting syringes, gauze, gloves, masks, uncontrolled antibiotics, vitamins, infant formula, and diapers, among other basic supplies that are currently in short supply in hospitals and clinics.
The Caymanian attorney Lynn Bodden is assisting with fundraising and the logistics for sending boxes to both a main hospital and a village clinic, as she explained to Cayman Compass.
At the same time, the South Sound Rotary Companion Club is collecting medications, adult diapers, powdered milk, and financial contributions to cover transportation costs. “This is our global neighborhood, and we are doing everything we can to help,” stated Leigh O’Connor, a member of the organization.
The Power of a Penny Foundation also launched a non-perishable food campaign aimed at vulnerable families in Cuba. Its founder, Lovell Marriott, described the testimonies received from the island as "alarming" and emphasized that the mission seeks to provide direct relief to those who need it most.
However, the delivery of aid faces significant obstacles. The reduction of flights to Cuba and the uncertainty regarding the supply of fuel for airplanes have complicated logistics. Furthermore, the costs of packaging, air transport, and customs procedures require dependence not only on in-kind donations but also on financial contributions.
While civil society organizations in the United States and the United Kingdom expand their support campaigns, and countries like Mexico, Chile, and Spain have announced various assistance mechanisms, international official support remains fragmented.
In the case of the Cayman Islands, there has not yet been a formal announcement of government aid to Cuba. According to Cayman Compass, the Governor's Office indicated that any decision to provide humanitarian assistance abroad must align with the UK's foreign policy and that it is not aware of current plans to offer official support to the island.
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