The humanitarian organization Caritas Cuba has initiated the distribution of food and hygiene kits in the Parish of San Pedro Apóstol, located in the Cacocum municipality, to support families in the Holguín Diocese who suffered in the wake of Hurricane Melissa.
This relief effort is carried out with the assistance of local volunteers and community members, as reported by the organization on their Facebook page.
The kits are specifically targeting individuals who lost their homes, belongings, and reliable access to essential resources following the storm's impact.
This initiative is part of a broader humanitarian mission, involving multiple shipments from the United States, intended to aid approximately 6,000 families across the dioceses of Bayamo-Manzanillo, Holguín-Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo-Baracoa.
On Friday, the second aircraft carrying humanitarian supplies arrived at Santiago de Cuba's Antonio Maceo International Airport, delivering 528 non-perishable food kits and 660 hygiene kits.
These packages contain basic necessities crucial for daily living, in a context where many individuals continue to struggle with meeting fundamental needs such as food and sanitation.
Caritas emphasized that this assistance represents a gesture of compassion and solidarity from the people of the United States towards those most vulnerable after the hurricane.
The distribution is coordinated by the Catholic Church and Caritas Cuba, with a focus on ensuring dignity, transparency, and the protection of beneficiaries.
The organization also highlighted the crucial role of local volunteers, enabling aid to reach families directly without intermediaries.
This second shipment follows an initial delivery that previously arrived at Holguín International Airport, containing the same quantity of food and hygiene kits.
The U.S. government has announced a total of three shipments of aid for those affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba: two by air and one by sea.
A State Department statement revealed that these efforts are part of a $3 million disaster assistance package pledged by the Trump Administration.
Washington claims to be working closely with the Catholic Church in Cuba to ensure aid is delivered directly, transparently, and effectively to the Cuban people.
The agency estimated the assistance could benefit up to 24,000 individuals in the hardest-hit provinces: Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Guantánamo.
Beyond basic food staples such as rice, beans, oil, and sugar, the shipments include supplies for water purification and storage, as well as essential household items like pots, cooking utensils, sheets, blankets, and solar lanterns to cope with power outages.
Meanwhile, the Cuban regime has criticized the humanitarian aid from the United States.
In a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Havana accused Washington of exploiting the tragedy for "political manipulation" purposes, asserting there was no official coordination between the two governments.
Cuban authorities noted they learned of the initiative through the Catholic Church and reiterated that all humanitarian contributions must go through official state channels.
Despite this, the goods are being received and distributed in eastern communities of the Island still grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
The hurricane struck eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm, leaving thousands homeless and damaging crops, telecommunications, electricity, and water infrastructure, in a region already beset by shortages and blackouts.
Hurricane Aid and Political Tensions
How many families are expected to benefit from the aid?
The aid is expected to benefit approximately 6,000 families across various dioceses, potentially reaching up to 24,000 people in the most affected provinces.
What criticism did the Cuban government have regarding the aid?
The Cuban government criticized the aid, accusing the United States of using the humanitarian effort for political manipulation and stating that there was no official coordination between the two governments.