Mike Hammer, mission chief of the United States Embassy in Cuba, visited the municipality of Bejucal this Friday to meet directly with families benefiting from the humanitarian assistance provided by the United States through Caritas Cuba.
During the visit, the diplomat heard firsthand about the conditions in which the Cubans who received the aid packages live, including the chronic lack of electricity and food.
In a conversation with one of the beneficiaries, Hammer asked her if she had electricity. "No, it's been longer without power, one with power," the woman replied. The diplomat responded briefly, "It's good to know that the help arrived safely. Enjoy it."
Hammer also met with the volunteers from Cáritas who deliver the packages directly to homes, bypassing the Cuban regime. "You have done an impressive, incredible job in getting aid to the people," he told them.
The diplomat explained that the distribution started as an initial trial: "It began with this trial of 700 families, just for the beginning. Of course, we want to reach many more families across the country."
The aid is part of the package of 100 million dollars announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May 2026, the largest U.S. humanitarian commitment to Cuba in decades.
Of that total, 60 million is channeled through the Catholic Church —via Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Cuba— and 40 million through other independent non-governmental organizations.
The first humanitarian flight of this phase departed from Miami on July 21 with 18 tons of food and hygiene supplies. Distribution began two days later, specifically in Bejucal and Alquízar, in the province of Artemisa, organized by local parish networks.
Each food module includes rice, beans, oil, pasta, sardines, and tuna, among other products. The hygiene block contains soaps, toothpaste, water purification tablets, and a rechargeable lamp, items that reflect the magnitude of the crisis facing the island.
The selection criteria prioritize elderly individuals living alone, people with disabilities, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and families with children in vulnerable situations.
A volunteer from Cáritas present during the visit emphasized that the service does not discriminate based on beliefs: "We simply looked at the person's vulnerability and their needs."
This Friday's visit is not an isolated event in Hammer's agenda. Since taking office in November 2024, the diplomat has developed a strategy of direct contact with the Cuban population that the Embassy calls "street-level diplomacy," under the hashtag #WithCubansOnTheGround.
Bejucal is a recurring point: in June 2025, he had already visited the Santa Susana Convent nursing home in that same municipality, and on July 22, he met with the leadership of Cáritas Cuba to coordinate the delivery of this new phase of assistance.
The complete plan aims to benefit between 100,000 and 200,000 families across the island in successive phases, according to data from Catholic Relief Services.
Filed under: