• Submitted by: Juana
• Guantánamo
• Politics and Government
• 04 / 15 / 2017

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The Russian Federation made official the donation of 1.5 million dollars to alleviate the consequences of Hurricane Mathew in the Cuban easternmost province of Guantanamo.
At the Russian embassy in Havana, a Memorandum was signed between that country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Agreement between the MAE and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
On the Russian side, the documents were initialed by Ambassador Mikhail Kamynin, while by the UNDP stamped her signature Myrta Kaulard, its representative on the island and UNICEF's María Machicado Terán.
This clearly shows that Russia wants to build and not destroy human values, as some do using the UN for their dubious objectives, Kamynin said shortly after the signing.
As soon as the hurricane stroke, the top leadership of the country made the decision to make this donation, because Cuba is a strategic ally and a friend of many years. Russia is always willing to help her friends, he said.
Based on the programs carried out in Santiago de Cuba following the passage of Hurricane Sandy in 2014, Russia is again moving its solidarity through the same international agencies, said the diplomat.
We recently visited Santiago and recorded on-site how the program works. I was surprised to see the results in the recovery of damaged homes and in raising their standard of living, Kamynin explained to the guests and the press.
For his part, Kaulard thanked the Russian Federation for its contribution that makes possible the reconstruction of about two thousand homes in Guantanamo and benefits six thousand people in the province.
The donation also contributes to the creation of jobs, the transfer of know-how and the creation of 180 mini-industries, said Kaulard, who also exalted the leadership of the Cuban authorities and local institutions.
For her part, the UNICEF representative stressed the importance of ensuring water quality, as it avoids the onset of illness and improves the quality of life of the premises.
The projects are carried out with the support of the National Institute of Water Resources (INRH), with the aid of MINED and MINSAP, responsible for the selection of the schools where they are applied, explained Machicado.
The ceremony was attended by officials from MINREX, MINCEX and representatives of UN agencies, accredited in Cuba, along with Russian diplomats.