The United States Embassy in Havana announced on Tuesday its commitment to ensuring that food and hygiene supplies sent to Cuba are delivered directly to families in need through the local parish network and Cáritas Cuba.
"Direct aid to everyday Cubans," the diplomatic mission declared in a statement on its X account following the arrival in Havana of the first shipment from the $100 million humanitarian assistance package announced by the Donald Trump administration.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba is dedicated to making sure that essential food and hygiene kits are delivered directly to local parishes and into the hands of the Cuban people, they emphasized in their post.
The shipment was received at José Martí International Airport by Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García Rodríguez; Carmen María Nodal Martínez, director of Cáritas Cuba; and Ángel Miguel Gutiérrez Valdivia, diocesan director of Cáritas Havana.
According to Cáritas Cuba's distribution plan, this initial shipment will aid 700 families within the Archdiocese of Havana, selected based on the institution’s usual vulnerability criteria.
The distribution to households will be managed by volunteers from the parish communities, who are already organized to carry out the process.
Ensuring Transparency in Distribution
Cáritas has stated that the distribution will be conducted with transparency, respect, and close support for the beneficiaries.
The packages include essential items that are part of the basic food basket: white rice, black beans, tuna, sardines, vegetable oil, spaghetti, iodized salt, and brown sugar.
Additionally, some packages also contain flashlights, buckets, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
As a distinctive feature, the boxes are marked with the U.S. flag, the Cáritas Cuba logo, and the phrase "Donation from the people of the United States of America to the citizens of Cuba."
Partnership for Broader Impact
The shipment departed from Miami bound for Havana on a flight operated by 7Air Cargo.
Out of the total $100 million package, Cáritas will manage $60 million, while the remaining $40 million will be handled by independent non-governmental organizations.
The entire package is expected to benefit between 100,000 and 120,000 families across the island, with shipments continuing in successive phases to extend assistance to other communities throughout the country.
Key Aspects of U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
How will the humanitarian aid reach Cuban families?
The aid will be distributed directly to families in need through the local parish network and Cáritas Cuba, with volunteers managing the delivery process.
What items are included in the aid packages?
The aid packages contain essential items such as white rice, black beans, tuna, sardines, vegetable oil, spaghetti, iodized salt, brown sugar, flashlights, buckets, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
Who oversees the distribution of the aid?
Cáritas Cuba, along with local parish volunteers, oversees the distribution to ensure it is conducted with transparency and respect for the beneficiaries.