A Cuban woman named Dayamin Sierra is urgently seeking humanitarian assistance to bring her father's body back to Cuba after he passed away on February 24 in Russia. Through a heartfelt Facebook post, she voiced her frustration over the lack of response from Cuban authorities.
"Good morning, the day before yesterday, February 24, a wonderful husband, father, and son of Cuban nationality passed away in Russia. As his daughter, I am asking for help to find a way to bring my father's body to Cuba. I've reached out to everyone here in Cuba, but no one responds, no one answers the phone, and our currency is worthless," Sierra wrote in the public group 'Collective Help Foundation for a Better World Fatima Cuellar'.
According to Sierra, her plea is solely humanitarian with no financial intentions. "I am only asking for humanitarian aid, not for money or to gain anything, just to find out where I can go for answers, how I can bring my father's body to Cuba to give him a farewell and eternal rest," she added in her post, which included several photos of her father.
Challenges of Repatriating Bodies from Russia
This family's predicament is not an isolated case. In recent months, several other stories have surfaced of Cubans who died in Russia, leaving their families struggling to repatriate their remains.
In April 2024, the family of a 36-year-old Cuban man, identified as Yoendris Hardy Hernández, sought assistance in bringing his body back after he died from a heart attack in Russia.
Earlier that year, the mother of Raibel Palacio Herrera, a young Cuban who died during Russia's conflict with Ukraine, complained about the lack of information regarding her son's body and its potential return to Cuba.
In July 2023, the family of Osniel Ferrán Martínez, who succumbed to pneumonia in Moscow, urgently requested help to transport his body back to the island.
Frequently Asked Questions on Repatriating Cuban Bodies from Russia
Why are Cuban families struggling to repatriate bodies from Russia?
Cuban families are facing challenges in repatriating bodies due to bureaucratic hurdles, lack of response from Cuban authorities, and financial constraints.
What assistance is available for repatriating bodies to Cuba?
While there are humanitarian groups and organizations offering aid, the lack of official support from Cuban authorities makes the process difficult and often requires families to seek help from international or private sources.