The Municipal Assembly of the People's Power in Guantánamo acknowledged that the shortage of inventories prevents the distribution of oil and peas to the entire population, which is why these two food items will be limited to 11,653 people.
The announcement, published this Friday by the station Radio Guantánamo, pertains to the fifth bi-monthly distribution of the food module from the World Food Programme (WFP). According to the authorities, the availability does not allow for coverage of the 49,842 registered consumers in the provincial registry.
In this distribution, oil will be provided at a rate of one liter per person, and peas will be given at one kilogram, exclusively to those listed in the official records of the so-called New PMA Vulnerable Profile. Rice will be the only product designated for all registered individuals, with an allocation of four kilograms per consumer.
The expected coverage contrasts with the results of a provincial survey reported in September, which identified more than 51,000 people in vulnerable situations in the eastern province. This figure nearly quadruples the number of beneficiaries who will receive oil and peas this time.
Eligible profiles include beneficiaries of Social Assistance, women over 60 years old living alone, men over 65 in the same situation, pregnant women, children up to five years old, minors with low weight or chronic diseases, and female heads of household with three or more children.
However, belonging to one of these groups does not guarantee automatic inclusion. Authorities apply additional criteria, such as per capita family income below 4,000 pesos, a high caregiving burden at home, recurrent food insecurity, or homes affected by severe weather events.
They also consider exclusions when there are qualified individuals who are out of work or when the income exceeds the established limit.
The food shortage has also impacted the transportation and distribution of basic goods. In September, over 140 tons of rice and 51 tons of beans remained undelivered from Santiago de Cuba to Guantánamo due to a lack of fuel.
In addition, the Ministry of Food Industry acknowledged in June that oil had not been distributed through the supply booklet at any point in the country during the year to date.
In early October, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero informed that Cuba had 883,446 people in vulnerable situations.
The strategic plan of the PMA for Cuba for the period 2026-2030, approved in June with 116 million dollars in food assistance, and a Japanese donation of one million dollars channeled through the organization in October are part of the international aid destined for the island.
Those who believe they meet the requirements to receive the module can go to the social worker in their community or to the Municipal Directorate of Labor and Social Security.
However, the issues with reconciling the lists have also excluded individuals recognized as vulnerable, as happened a few days ago with an elderly man from Bayamo who, despite being registered, did not appear on any list of beneficiaries.
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