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Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the humanitarian organization of the Catholic Church in the United States known as Catholic Charities USA, sent an official letter to the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba recognizing the exceptional work of Cáritas Cuba and its diocesan and parish teams in the humanitarian response to Hurricane Melissa.
The letter, signed by Jennifer Poidatz and Joe from the CRS team, is addressed to Monsignor Dionisio García Ibáñez, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and president of Cáritas Cuba, and to Carmen María, the organization's director, following a week-long visit from the American team to the island.
"I write to thank you and all the staff and volunteers of Cáritas Cuba, as well as the diocesan and parish teams of Cáritas who welcomed us last week, as well as those who have contributed so much of their talent and commitment to provide the much-needed assistance to those affected by Hurricane Melissa," the letter states.
The coordinated humanitarian response between both organizations included the shipment of five containers to Santiago de Cuba with 1,320 aid modules intended for the families most affected by the cyclone's passage.
The impact of Hurricane Melissa was devastating for the eastern region of Cuba, affecting more than 2.2 million people in Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and other provinces in the eastern part of the country.
The total assistance mobilized reached approximately three million dollars, approved by the governments of both countries as part of humanitarian cooperation efforts following the natural disaster.
CRS has been operating in Cuba since 1993 and has historically distributed millions of dollars in humanitarian assistance through its network of local partners, with Cáritas Cuba being one of its most important strategic allies on the island.
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