Mexican Aid Shipment to Artemisa Sparks Outrage: "We Are All Cubans"

Artemisa recently received a shipment of food from Mexico, as reported by the Telecentro ARTV on Facebook, detailing the arrival of rice, crackers, and cans of sardines at the San Antonio de los Baños 2 Wholesale Base Business Unit, with initial distribution aimed at municipalities such as Güira de Melena.

This announcement comes shortly after two Mexican Navy ships docked in the port of Havana, delivering 814 tons of food and other supplies, including rice, beans, and powdered milk, as part of a humanitarian aid package. The Ministry of Internal Trade later stated that these goods would be distributed in Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, and the Isla de la Juventud, prioritizing children aged 0 to 13, pregnant women, seniors over 65, and individuals in vulnerable situations.

Public Discontent Over Distribution Criteria

When distribution began in Mayabeque, the clarification that the aid was specifically for "underweight and undersized children, pregnant women, and seniors over 65" sparked questions about whether all children between 0 and 13 years would be included or just particular cases. This led to a wide-ranging public debate reflected in reactions following the commencement of distribution in the province.

Similarly, in Artemisa, the local telecenter's publication provoked a comparable reaction. "Weren't there also milk, meat, beans, and hygiene items?" asked one user. Another added, "Just like that, the donation list shrunk."

Questions Regarding Missing Aid Items

Nagging doubts about the whereabouts of the rest of the supplies are echoed in numerous comments: "And where is the powdered milk?", "What happened to the beans, hygiene products, and other items included in the aid?", "Mexico donated hygiene products, milk, beans—where are those items?" and "But there were more things—where are the milk, oil, beans, and hygiene products?"

Several internet users claim the announced products haven't reached their municipalities. "I'm from San Antonio de los Baños, and nothing has arrived here," "I'm from Güira, and I haven't seen even the label of the cans," "Nothing at all has arrived at my store," and "I'm from Guanajay, and nothing has arrived here for anyone."

Partial Deliveries and Beneficiary Selection Concerns

Others describe receiving only partial aid: "In Güira de Melena, we got two pounds of rice, nothing else," "At my store, they've only given me crackers," and "We did get rice—where are the cans and crackers?"

The selection of beneficiaries has also sparked dissatisfaction. "From what I understand, it's for children aged 0 to 13 and the most vulnerable, and the rest don't get anything," commented a user.

Another voiced, "Aid for 0 to 13-year-olds and those over 65, what about the rest of us? I think all Cubans are in need. For example, I live with two girls aged 15 and 16, and I'm 57, so it's not for everyone; it's not fair, we're all Cubans."

Skepticism Over Aid's Final Destination

There are also suspicions about the final destination of some supplies. "It's for dollar stores, what disrespect," wrote one internet user. Another asserted, "USD stores are stocked—rush to keep fattening the government with dollars."

Amid ongoing shortages of food and basic goods, comments reveal a significant distrust in the distribution process. "Hopefully, everything donated reaches the population, hopefully, it doesn't go elsewhere," one person expressed. Another was more blunt: "Stealing, stealing, and more stealing—so many hands before reaching the end."

Wider Implications of Aid Dependency

While more than 800 tons of food have been announced for various territories with priority for vulnerable sectors, many in Artemisa claim they haven't seen this volume reflected in their deliveries. In a context of widespread difficulties accessing basic products, the most common question in the comments summarizes the dissatisfaction: "What about the rest of us—don't we eat?"

Beyond the immediate distribution, a sense of exhaustion with the constant reliance on external aid is also evident. "You can't live off donations," wrote one internet user. Another commented, "We are a disgrace living on handouts." In the same vein, a user noted, "How long will we live off handouts? We want jobs and to earn what we work for."

Amidst criticisms regarding the lack of transparency and management, several comments converge on a single idea: while aid can provide temporary relief, it does not address the root issue in a country where scarcity has become a daily norm.