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Cuban authorities began on Monday the distribution in the province of Holguín of a donation of skimmed powdered milk sent by Mexico, intended for children between one and six years old, amid recent allegations regarding the alleged sale in dollars of part of the humanitarian aid that arrived on the island.
According to Miguel Yohannis Justiz Valle, director of the Holguín Dairy Company, in statements to the Cuban News Agency (ACN), Cuba received 270 tons of skim powdered milk, of which 27.075 tons were allocated to this eastern province. The product will be distributed to children aged one to two years and two to six years, who will each receive one kilogram.
The delivery will cover approximately 10 days of consumption for those age groups in the 14 municipalities of Holguín, said the official quoted by ACN. The distribution will take place from the more remote areas to the warehouses of the provincial capital.
The authorities explained that the transfer faces logistical difficulties. According to Justiz Valle, due to the fuel shortage, only one truck has been authorized to transport milk to municipalities in the eastern part of the province, such as Moa, Sagua de Tánamo, Mayarí, Frank País, and Cueto. In the other areas, one or two vehicles will be used, while in the city of Holguín, electric tricycles will be employed to deliver the product to nearby stores.
The donation is part of several shipments of food and basic products recently sent from Mexico to Cuba.
The distribution takes place in a context marked by controversy. A report by the Mexican channel TV Azteca recently revealed that some products sent as humanitarian aid —such as the so-called "well-being beans"— are being sold in state-run stores that operate in dollars, instead of being distributed free of charge to the population.
Cuban authorities have rejected those accusations. An official from the Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN) stated recently that “donations cannot be commercialized” and that there are control mechanisms in place to ensure they reach the defined beneficiaries, including pregnant women, underweight children, and vulnerable individuals.
The official also confirmed that the powdered milk donated by Mexico would be distributed to children aged one to six in various provinces of the country, as part of that food assistance program.
In a country marked by food scarcity and a severe economic crisis, every new international donation raises hopes among the population, but it also raises questions about its ultimate destination and the transparency of its distribution.
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