Cuba thanks International Red Cross for donations

 HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 9 (ACN) Cuba thanked the International Red Cross after the arrival in the island of a large donation for the victims of Hurricane Ian that created havoc last September leaving tens of thousands house destroyed and three dead in its wake.

Authorities received on Tuesday, at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, a shipment of donations sent by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to families affected by the hurricane in western Cuba.

Gonzalo Atxaersndio, representative of the Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean of that international organization, explained that the donation is made up by 20 tons of humanitarian aid divided into 1,280 hygiene kits, 1,280 kitchen kits and 1,280 solar lamps.

He clarified that the action is part of the response to the emergency appeal issued by the International Federation of the Red Cross, to attend to the homes and communities affected by the hydro-meteorological event.

This donation, valued at 148,611.20 USD, is a very specific act of collaboration that we wish to sustain over time with intentions and plans to make other shipments, he said.

Luis Enrique Calero Rodríguez, Chief of Operations of the Cuban Red Cross National Society, thanked the gesture of solidarity offered to Cuba, and especially to all those who offered their modest contributions to make it a reality.

He highlighted the coordination work developed jointly with all the institutions involved, with the purpose of making the aid reach the greatest number of people who need it today.

The effort is in addition to a long history of cooperation, exemplified in the support provided during previous storms such as Sandy and Irma, when resources were sent according to the needs identified, he said.

So far, the Caribbean nation has received shipments sent by governments of various countries, solidarity groups and Cubans living abroad and international organizations, aimed at compensating the material damages caused in the affected territories.

Present at the reception of the donation were officials from the Ministries of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment and Public Health.