Vulnerable Cuban families have begun receiving humanitarian aid packages funded by the United States government. The distribution kicked off Wednesday in the municipalities of Bejucal, located in Mayabeque, and Alquízar, in Artemisa.
Cáritas Cuba has detailed that each package consists of two distinct sections: one for food items and another for hygiene and household necessities, designed to address the immediate needs of the beneficiary households.
Within the food section, each package includes 10 pounds of rice, 10 pounds of beans, a gallon of cooking oil, a pound of brown sugar, three pounds of pasta, six cans of sardines in tomato sauce, and five cans of tuna in water.
The hygiene section contains four bars of bath soap, a bag of powdered detergent, two tubes of toothpaste, four toothbrushes, a bottle containing water purification tablets, two packs of sanitary pads, a plastic bucket with a lid, a 20-liter container for water storage, and a rechargeable lamp.
The selection of beneficiaries is carried out by parish teams and Caritas volunteers in each diocese, who conduct home visits based on vulnerability criteria set by the donor.
Priority is given to elderly people living alone, pregnant or nursing women, individuals with disabilities or bedridden, and families with children under five years of age at risk.
This distribution is part of the $100 million package announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 8, 2026, with $60 million channeled through the Catholic Church and Cáritas Cuba, supported by Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
The remaining $40 million is managed by other independent non-governmental organizations.
The first humanitarian flight under this commitment departed from Miami on July 21, carrying 18 tons of food and hygiene supplies, enough to assist around 700 families in the initial phase targeting the Archdiocese of Havana.
The plan covers all dioceses across the nation, from Pinar del Río to Camagüey, and aims to benefit between 100,000 and 200,000 families throughout the island in the upcoming months.
Meanwhile, the delivery of supplies continues to eastern provinces affected by Hurricane Melissa, which struck eastern Cuba between October and November 2025, leaving more than 60,000 homes destroyed or damaged. Initial funds of three to six million dollars were allocated to these areas in previous stages.
Cáritas Cuba openly acknowledged the program's limitations. "We are fully aware that we cannot reach everyone. Therefore, we provide this aid 'which is not massive in its coverage,' with our hearts set on those who, amid the current humanitarian crisis, face greater vulnerability."
The initiative has sparked questions and public debate on whether assistance of this magnitude can make a real difference against the backdrop of the deep-seated crisis Cuba faces after decades of dictatorship.
Cáritas concluded its statement with a quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta that encapsulates their view on the program's limitations: "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less without that drop."
Understanding U.S. Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
Who are the primary beneficiaries of the U.S. aid packages in Cuba?
The aid packages prioritize elderly people living alone, pregnant or nursing women, individuals with disabilities or bedridden, and families with young children under five years of age at risk.
What is included in the food section of the aid packages?
Each food package contains 10 pounds of rice, 10 pounds of beans, a gallon of cooking oil, a pound of brown sugar, three pounds of pasta, six cans of sardines in tomato sauce, and five cans of tuna in water.
How is the aid distributed to the beneficiaries?
The distribution is managed by parish teams and Caritas volunteers in each diocese, who conduct home visits and apply vulnerability criteria established by the donor to select beneficiaries.