Massive Humanitarian Aid Headed to Cuba from Miami Amid Hurricane Melissa Aftermath

Father José Joaquín Espino, who serves as the rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, is set to travel to Holguín, Cuba, on a flight laden with over 30 tons of humanitarian aid for those devastated by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba. This was confirmed by journalist Mario J. Pentón in a report for Martí Noticias.

The priest himself will oversee the shipment, which is part of a Catholic Church-led airlift from South Florida to the hardest-hit dioceses on the island. According to Father Espino, the Miami Catholic community is sending essential supplies like food, medicine, and other necessities to the eastern dioceses, aiming to mitigate the severe destruction caused by Melissa. The hurricane has left behind extensive flooding, collapsed homes, isolated communities, and an escalating humanitarian crisis.

Coordinated Relief Efforts

Father Espino emphasized that in emergencies of such magnitude, the first organization activated within Cuba is Cáritas Cubana, the Church's charitable arm. The flight accompanying Father Espino follows an earlier aircraft that departed the previous Sunday with around 40 tons of aid bound for Santiago de Cuba.

Additionally, the Church successfully delivered a container of rice to Guantánamo, which had been stuck in Havana due to the hurricane's proximity. This systematic distribution aims to deliver aid to various eastern dioceses.

A Direct Line of Aid

Father Espino clarified that these shipments bypass state authorities entirely. "What we send goes directly to the Church, and the Church distributes it to those in need," he stated, highlighting that the aid is dispensed through ecclesiastical channels, free from government interference.

The priest added that the cargo accompanying him to Holguín would be received by Bishop Emilio Aranguren Echeverría. "I'll be in Cuba for maybe two hours. It will be handed over to Monsignor Emilio through the Church," the report noted.

Facing Challenges

Despite these efforts, logistical and financial hurdles complicate the aid's arrival and distribution. All containers from the United States arrive solely at the Mariel port, necessitating transportation from there to the eastern provinces—a costly endeavor ranging from $3,000 to $4,000.

Compounding these issues, 30% to 40% of Cáritas staff have been stricken with chikungunya, reducing their capacity to respond effectively on the ground.

Father Espino also mentioned bureaucratic obstacles, such as Cuban government demands regarding packing lists, and some shipping companies' reluctance to dock at ports seized by the regime, forcing the design of complex and expensive routes to ensure deliveries reach the island.

Nevertheless, the priest noted that in this dire crisis, Cuban authorities "seem to understand the severity of the emergency" and are "quite open to assistance," maintaining communication with the Conference of Bishops.

Continued Support from Miami

The Catholic Church in Cuba announced that four planes carrying humanitarian aid from Miami are scheduled for the eastern dioceses most affected by Hurricane Melissa. According to a statement from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC), a first plane has already arrived in Santiago de Cuba, with a second flight expected to land in Holguín this Saturday, November 15.

Subsequent flights will target the dioceses of Guantánamo–Baracoa and Bayamo–Manzanillo. The bishops explained that this assistance stems from the "fraternal love of the Archdiocese of Miami," which has mobilized to support communities ravaged by the cyclone.

The operation is coordinated through Cáritas Cuba, in collaboration with Cáritas from other countries and sister Churches, which have sent and will continue to send resources to the dioceses hit hardest by the hurricane.