Three Cuban children moved hundreds of people on social media when they opened a box of humanitarian aid sent from the United States and distributed by nuns in Cuba. The most emotional moment came when one of the children discovered the last item in the package and exclaimed excitedly, "Sugar!"
The video was published on Facebook by his mother, Elen Guevara, who expressed her gratitude for the support received.
"I want to thank the nuns for bringing food and hygiene products to my home," she wrote alongside the recording.
The images depict three children taking the products out of the box one by one. Oil, beans, salt, spaghetti, and other foods bring smiles and expressions of joy that reflect the daily struggles to access basic goods on the island.
The aid is part of the 100 million dollar program driven by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and channeled through Catholic Relief Services, Cáritas Cuba, and the Catholic Church, without the involvement of the Cuban authorities.
The first shipment departed from Miami on July 21 with about 18 tons of food, hygiene items, medical equipment, and flashlights intended for approximately 700 Cuban families.
Each food module includes 10 pounds of rice, 10 pounds of beans, a gallon of oil, a pound of brown sugar, three pounds of pasta, six cans of sardines in tomato sauce, and five cans of tuna in water, among other products.
The distribution is carried out directly through volunteers from Cáritas Cuba, who prioritize elderly individuals living alone, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and families with young children.
The arrival of this aid has sparked criticism from the Cuban regime. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez discredited the program by considering it a politically motivated initiative, while other officials have insisted that any international assistance should be channeled through state institutions.
The family of Elen Guevara had already gained attention days earlier due to another viral video. On that occasion, the mother publicly questioned Miguel Díaz-Canel for his calls to face the crisis with "creativity."
"I want him to explain to me how I can be creative on a salary of two thousand pesos," she said, while pointing to the wood stove she uses for cooking due to frequent power outages.
Now, another of their videos is making the rounds on social media, but with a different message. Amid the scarcity affecting millions of Cuban households, the joy of three children upon finding a pound of sugar inside a food box became one of the most talked-about images of the day.
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