Carlos Fernández de Cossío, the Deputy Minister of Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), has publicly addressed the offer of assistance for those affected by Hurricane Melissa. This offer was announced on Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a brief statement shared on the social media platform X, Fernández de Cossío indicated that they have "established contact" with the U.S. Department of State and are awaiting further details.
"Following today's public communications regarding hurricane damages, we have reached out to the Department of State and are waiting for specifics on how and in what way they are willing to assist," the Deputy Minister stated.
As of the publication of this article, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has not commented on the matter.
U.S. Pledges Direct Aid to Cuba
Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that the U.S. government is ready to offer "immediate" humanitarian aid to Cubans impacted by Hurricane Melissa, emphasizing that this will be done without intermediaries from the regime.
The initial announcement was made via his account on X, where the Republican official avoided going into details but made it clear that the island is among the countries eligible for assistance from Washington.
"We are prepared to offer immediate humanitarian aid to the Cuban people affected by the hurricane," Rubio stated succinctly.
He later followed up with another post clarifying that "the United States is ready to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, both directly and through local partners who can distribute it more effectively to those in need."
In the same post, he highlighted that "following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, the Trump administration stands with the brave Cuban people, who continue to struggle to meet their basic needs."
Legal Framework for U.S. Humanitarian Aid
A statement released on the Department of State's website clarified that "U.S. legislation provides exemptions and authorizations for private donations of food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to Cuba, as well as disaster response."
"We encourage those wishing to directly support the Cuban people to contact us if they have any questions. Queries can be sent to CubaHumanitarian@state.gov," the statement concluded.
This announcement comes just one day after Rubio publicly announced active coordination with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas to respond to the emergency. However, at that time, Cuba was not included among the countries with which the U.S. was in contact for joint action in response to the natural disaster.
Impact and Historical Context
Torrential rains, flooding, and damage to critical infrastructure in provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Granma have left communities isolated and entire areas without access to electricity or potable water.
Historically, offers of humanitarian aid between the United States and Cuba during natural disasters have been rare and politically sensitive. In 2022, following the devastating Hurricane Ian, the Cuban government requested emergency assistance from the Biden administration. That request elicited a limited response but demonstrated an unusual openness amid diplomatic tensions.
Earlier, in August 2022, after the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, Cuba had requested technical assistance from Washington. However, on previous occasions when the U.S. has offered humanitarian aid, the Cuban government has rejected it, citing conditions that do not respect national sovereignty.
Understanding U.S.-Cuba Humanitarian Aid Dynamics
What prompted the U.S. to offer aid to Cuba?
The U.S. offered aid to Cuba following the severe impact of Hurricane Melissa, which caused significant damage and left many communities without basic necessities.
How is the U.S. planning to deliver the aid?
The U.S. plans to deliver humanitarian aid both directly and through local partners to ensure it reaches those in need effectively.
Has Cuba accepted U.S. aid in the past?
Cuba has occasionally accepted U.S. aid, though offers have often been politically delicate, and in some cases, the government has rejected assistance citing sovereignty concerns.