The government of the Canary Islands continues its initiative to assist Canarian emigrants and their descendants in Cuba, providing 56 financial aids totaling 11,200 euros to support those in precarious situations. This initiative is driven by the Vice-Ministry of External Action of the Canary Islands Government, at the proposal of the General Directorate of Emigration, reported by the newspaper España Exterior.
According to the news portal, the beneficiaries must be "elderly individuals with the health issues that come with age." This aid is particularly significant in the Cuban context, as the country faces one of its most severe economic crises in decades. Prices in the market have doubled over the past two years due to severe resource shortages and the continuous depreciation of the peso.
Cuba is experiencing a critical shortage of essential goods such as food, medicine, and fuel, a situation that particularly impacts low-income populations. "These aids aim to address situations of extreme economic and assistive need affecting Canarian emigrants in the country," indicated the news website.
The report clarifies that the maximum amount of each individual aid will be 200 euros, as "these are direct subsidies of an exceptional nature for urgent humanitarian needs," noted España Exterior. Spain offers extraordinary assistance to its nationals residing abroad who are in need, through various differentiated programs that are incompatible with each other.
These initiatives have gained greater importance for Cubans residing on the island who have obtained Spanish nationality in recent years, initially through the Historical Memory Law and, more recently, the Democratic Memory Law, which was extended for another year.
The Principality of Asturias (Spain) announced in April its latest aid call for Asturians and their descendants (up to the first degree of consanguinity) residing in Latin American countries, Central America, and the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba. The subsidies are aimed at individuals over 65 years old who are in need or lack sufficient income, according to the Asturian government website.
However, adults aged between 18 and 64 can also apply for these individual aids if they can prove to have been victims of gender violence, suffer from a permanent disability to work, or have a serious illness.
More than 160,000 Spanish citizens lived in Cuba at the beginning of 2023, according to the data from the Register of Spaniards Residing Abroad. This entity detailed in its latest report on individuals with Spanish nationality living abroad that 160,833 of them resided in Cuba as of January 1, 2023.
FAQs on Canary Islands' Financial Aid to Cuban Residents
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the financial aid provided by the Canary Islands to residents in Cuba facing precarious situations.
Who is eligible for the financial aid from the Canary Islands in Cuba?
The financial aid is intended for elderly individuals of Canarian descent who are facing health issues and economic hardships.
How much financial aid is provided to each individual?
Each individual can receive a maximum of 200 euros as part of this exceptional humanitarian aid.
What is the current economic situation in Cuba?
Cuba is facing one of its most severe economic crises in decades, with a significant shortage of essential goods and a continuous depreciation of the peso.
Can younger individuals apply for aid from the Principality of Asturias?
Yes, adults aged 18 to 64 can apply if they can prove they have been victims of gender violence, suffer from a permanent disability, or have a serious illness.