The Canadian government has pledged close to 900,000 dollars, allegedly to aid communities in Cuba that have been devastated by natural disasters. According to a Facebook announcement by the United Nations System in Cuba, this contribution aims to alleviate the impact of recent climate emergencies that have struck the island.
A significant portion of the funding, totaling 460,000 dollars, is directed to the World Food Program (WFP) in Cuba. This allocation is intended to ensure emergency food aid and enhance the logistics necessary for its distribution. Additionally, support extends to the Red Cross, UNICEF, and CARE, key organizations in providing humanitarian assistance within the nation.
The United Nations System in Cuba emphasized in their post that beyond the monetary value, the aid signifies a commitment to those affected, highlighting Canada's solidarity during times of crisis.
In recent days, Cuba received a humanitarian shipment from Brazil, purportedly aimed at easing the challenging conditions faced by those impacted by the recent hurricanes that have battered several provinces. This shipment included 10 tons of dehydrated food, complementing the 30 water purification units previously donated by Brazil, as reported by the state-controlled media.
Similarly, the Spanish government has donated 9.3 tons of humanitarian aid materials for those affected by Hurricane Oscar, which ravaged the eastern region of the country at the end of October, according to official sources. The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the aid comprised 70 tents, 1,000 mosquito nets, and 227 cooking sets, among other supplies, with a total value of 56,000 dollars, as per an EFE news agency report.
In October, the Norwegian government announced a contribution of 400,000 dollars to assist in the recovery of the Guantánamo territories. Information released by the Norwegian embassy in Cuba indicates that this assistance is facilitated through the United Nations’ Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
However, despite the international aid for those affected by the recent natural disasters, a victim of Hurricane Oscar in Guantánamo, whose home was severely damaged, expressed outrage. She claimed that the government sold her a mattress for 735 pesos, reinforcing suspicions that the regime is selling donated goods to the public. The woman, residing in Baracoa, displayed the mattress—which is little more than a thin pad—in a video, noting that it is meant for a cancer patient.