Caritas Cuba Acknowledges Limitations of US Aid: "We Are Fully Aware We Can't Reach Everyone"

On Thursday, Caritas Cuba openly acknowledged that the humanitarian aid funded by the United States will fall short of assisting every Cuban in need. This rare admission in an official statement underscores the severity of the crisis gripping the island.

In a message shared on its website, the Catholic Church organization urged understanding from those who may not benefit from the program, emphasizing that assistance will be prioritized for the most vulnerable individuals.

"We are fully aware that we cannot reach everyone. Therefore, we provide this aid, which is not extensive in its coverage, with our hearts focused on those facing greater vulnerability amid the current humanitarian crisis," the institution stated.

Details of the Aid Program

This program is part of a $100 million package approved by the US government to provide humanitarian assistance in Cuba. Of this amount, $60 million is being managed by Caritas Cuba and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), while the remaining $40 million will be distributed through other independent organizations.

Who Will Receive the Aid?

Caritas clarified that the selection of beneficiaries is based on predefined social criteria, not favoritism. Priority groups include elderly individuals living alone, pregnant or nursing women, people with disabilities or those bedridden, and families with children under five years old at risk.

The organization highlighted that beneficiaries are identified through home visits conducted by volunteers and parish teams in each diocese, ensuring that aid reaches those most in need without the Cuban state's involvement.

Contents of Each Aid Package

Each package contains basic food items and essential goods to help alleviate the daily hardships faced by thousands of Cuban families. The modules include 10 pounds of rice, 10 pounds of beans, a gallon of oil, a pound of brown sugar, three pounds of pasta, six cans of sardines, and five cans of tuna, as well as hygiene products like soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, water purification tablets, sanitary pads, a plastic bucket, a 20-liter water storage container, and a rechargeable lamp.

Progress of Aid Distribution

The aid distribution kicked off on Thursday in Bejucal and Alquízar, with plans to gradually extend to the rest of the country's dioceses over the coming months, from Pinar del Río to Camagüey. Meanwhile, supplies continue to be distributed in eastern provinces affected by Hurricane Melissa, for which an initial allocation of $3 to $6 million was made in the program's early stages.

The first shipment, weighing 18 tons, departed from Miami on Tuesday aboard a 7Air Cargo flight and arrived at José Martí International Airport on Wednesday. This cargo included 700 food kits and 700 hygiene kits, initially intended for families in the Archdiocese of Havana.

An Inadequate Relief Amidst Crisis

The comprehensive plan aims to benefit between 100,000 and 120,000 families, though Catholic Relief Services estimates that the number could reach up to 200,000 households, affecting more than half a million people. Nevertheless, Caritas acknowledges that this aid addresses only a fraction of the needs in a country beset by shortages of food, medicine, basic products, and a prolonged economic crisis.

The organization concluded its message with a quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta that captures the program's scope and limitations: "Sometimes we feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."