The United States provides $3 million in hurricane relief for Cuba, bypassing the government and distributing through the Catholic Church
HAVANA: The United States has announced three million dollars in aid for Cubans affected by powerful Hurricane Melissa.
This assistance aims to bypass the island’s communist government by distributing through the Catholic Church.
Hurricane Melissa caused at least 59 deaths and massive destruction across the Caribbean this week.
It made landfall in Jamaica as a top-strength Category 5 hurricane before striking eastern Cuba.
Cuba carried out preventive evacuations of more than 700,000 residents and has reported no fatalities.
Several eastern provinces have suffered considerable damage to homes, infrastructure and crops.
The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs confirmed coordination with the Catholic Church for distribution.
“Our prayers are with the brave Cuban people,” the bureau added in a social media post.
Washington has maintained an economic embargo on the communist-led island for more than six decades.
On Friday, the State Department said it was ready to provide aid directly and via local partners.
The Catholic Church has regularly served as a mediator between the two ideological foes in the past.
Havana criticised the aid offer and called for a lifting of the embargo instead.
US emergency response teams were also sent to other Caribbean locations including Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas. – AFP
