Over 20 countries around the world send humanitarian aid to victims of Hurricane Melissa

HAVANA, Cuba, November 11 (ACN) Aid has been received from 27 countries across five continents to help repair the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic said.

In statements to the local press on Monday, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX by its Spanish acronym) also noted that the United Nations system had already deployed resources, including in areas near those that would be affected, even before the storm struck the eastern region.

He specified that after the hurricane passed, another shipment of food and supplies was received from UN agencies present in Cuba, including roof repair materials, water purification and storage systems, and other essential items.

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that since the threat posed by Melissa was announced, governments, non-governmental organizations, Cuban collaborators on international missions, agencies, and Cubans residing abroad, among others, responded in various ways.

Perez-Oliva Fraga mentioned that donations have arrived from Latin America and the Caribbean, including from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which also sent technicians to repair power lines, bridges, and roads; as well as from Mexico, Colombia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Chile, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic.
From Asia, offers of assistance have come from India, which donated a mobile field hospital and other resources, as well as from China, Vietnam, and Japan.

Humanitarian aid from Europe has been provided by Spain, France, Norway, Switzerland, and other countries through the United Nations system. The head of MINCEX also highlighted the contributions from Ghana and Equatorial Guinea, and from the Middle East, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Regarding the announced $3 million contribution from the United States government through the Catholic Relief Services, the high-ranking official clarified that nothing has been received or finalized.

In his statements to television and the Cuban News Agency, the deputy prime minister considered all this international aid a valuable complement, given that the State is bearing the brunt of the recovery efforts in the affected provinces and communities, and is even covering transportation costs for some of the aid through its budget.

He emphasized that any governments, agencies, and organizations that wish to do so can participate in the direct delivery of donations to the people and communities affected by the hurricane, and reiterated that the State has been adamant that no donations be sold.