A fresh batch of humanitarian aid from the U.S. government reached Cuba on Tuesday, consisting of 700 food packages and an equal number of hygiene kits, aimed at assisting vulnerable families in the Diocese of Ciego de Ávila.
The shipment landed in the early hours at Abel Santamaría International Airport in Santa Clara and was coordinated through the Catholic Church and Caritas Cuba, as reported by the latter organization.
Present at the reception were Father Dariusz Chalupczynski, the ordinary of the Avileña diocese, and Roberto Armas Carbonell, the diocesan director of Caritas. They were joined by airport workers and volunteers to oversee the unloading of the aid.
Distribution to Vulnerable Groups
The aid will be transported to the parish of Gaspar in Ciego de Ávila, where it will be distributed among families selected based on vulnerability criteria.
The primary beneficiaries include senior citizens over 60, individuals with disabilities or bedridden, pregnant or nursing women, and children under five.
Caritas volunteers are tasked with delivering the goods directly to the families. The organization has ensured that all personnel involved have received prior training to carry out the distribution in an organized and transparent manner.
U.S. Humanitarian Commitment
This latest shipment is part of a $100 million U.S. humanitarian assistance program designed to support the Cuban population.
Of this amount, $60 million is funneled through Caritas Cuba and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), while the remaining $40 million is managed by independent organizations.
The Catholic Church has clarified that Caritas does not receive the $60 million in cash. Instead, the funds are allocated for purchasing food, hygiene products, and other supplies, as well as covering the logistics necessary to deliver them to the recipients.
Expansion Across Provinces
The initiative reaching Ciego de Ávila is part of a broader plan to extend the program to other provinces. In mid-September, the United States announced additional shipments for Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, and Pinar del Río.
On October 1st, another U.S. shipment arrived in Camagüey, where 700 kits began to be distributed among families in Lugareño and Nuevitas.
Weeks earlier, a similar consignment had landed in Santa Clara destined for the Diocese of Cienfuegos, also comprising 700 food and 700 hygiene kits for at-risk households.
The U.S. program aims to gradually extend its assistance to various communities on the island, prioritizing homes facing food insecurity and other critical vulnerabilities.
Understanding U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
How many families are expected to benefit from the humanitarian aid?
The aid shipment includes 700 food packages and 700 hygiene kits, which are expected to benefit a significant number of families in the Diocese of Ciego de Ávila.
What criteria are used to select beneficiary families?
Beneficiary families are selected based on vulnerability criteria, including age, disability, pregnancy, and young children in the household.
Which organizations are involved in distributing the aid?
The aid distribution is managed by Caritas Cuba and Catholic Relief Services, with the support of local church authorities and volunteers.