HAVANA, Oct 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA/AGENCIES) — Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez thanked the United States for its offer of assistance to alleviate the enormous damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which hit the western part of the archipelago on Sept 27.
On his Twitter account, the foreign minister wrote, “We appreciate the offer of humanitarian aid from the United States. The material contribution worth two million dollars (USD) through the International Federation of the Red Cross will contribute to our recovery and support efforts for those affected by the ravages of Hurricane Ian.”
The hurricane caused partial or total damage to more than 100,000 homes, knocked out power lines and communications in the affected provinces, and caused considerable damage to agriculture and healthcare centers, schools, industries and other important facilities.
The United States said Tuesday it has offered critical emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Cuba to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian, an unusual but not unprecedented move after years of bilateral tensions.
The assistance includes $2 million in provisions and supplies that will be delivered through independent non-governmental organizations that have experience and are already working on the island directly with the affected populations, said a senior administration official who asked to remain anonymous following government policies.
“We are responding to a disaster by working with our international humanitarian assistance partners to deliver critical assistance directly to those most in need,” she said
The emergency aid will be provided through “trusted international partners,” like the Red Cross, by way of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID.
The announcement comes after Ian hit the western part of the island in late September, causing extensive damage to its power grid. The hurricane left large swathes of Cuba with blackouts, fueling discontent on the Caribbean island, especially in rural areas where the blackouts are the worst.
Cuba already faced a deep energy crisis and economic turmoil before Ian, especially after a fire in August devastated an oil deposit 97 kilometers from Havana that was a key source of energy.
This is not the first time that the U.S. government has provided humanitarian assistance to Cuba in the wake of natural disasters. It did it in 2008, in the wake of Hurricane Gustav; and from 2004 to 2006, in the wake of Hurricanes Charley, Dennis and Wilma.
The current move represents a small step in thawing icy relations between the two nations. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA/AGENCIES
