Cuba expresses gratitude for international aid after hurricanes

Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva expressed gratitude on Thursday for the international cooperation that Cuba has received after Hurricanes Oscar and Rafael hit the country in just 20 days.

At a press conference, Pérez-Oliva noted that the aid received from the United Nations System played an important role in the immediate recovery efforts using the resources that it has prepositioned in Cuba for these kinds of events.

This allowed giving an immediate response to the victims with food, resources to access drinking water, tanks of different capacities, as well as other articles for the population, he added.

The minister recalled that the fifth aid flight from the United Nations System arrived, also bringing together other institutions, countries, and organizations that contribute to it.

Pérez-Oliva stressed the capacity of Cuba, its government, and institutions to assist in the recovery from climatic events that occurred in extreme parts of the country simultaneously.

The Foreign Trade minister pointed out that despite Cuba’s complex economic situation and the unprecedented tightening of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the country, there have been shows of solidarity and concrete help from numerous nations.

Several governments with resources for the power generation system, medical supplies, food, water-treatment equipment and emergency generators also gave their help, he noted.

At the same time, there have been offers from foreign companies based in Cuba that have warehouses with merchandise under customs deposit, and foreign institutions that have put their inventories to work for the recovery.

This speaks of the sensitivity and solidarity of these companies that have been working in the country for years, he added.

Pérez-Oliva underscored the position and immediate reaction of foreign investors with offers of various kinds, as well as countless compatriots abroad, and solidarity organizations that made important contributions such as the delivery of 100 power plants to give vitality to key centers.

He explained that the priorities of the solidarity aid received are those that have an impact on the recovery of the national power system, and safe food and water to guarantee the supply to the affected population.

So far, significant quantities of mattresses, stoves, means for the recovery of housing, medical supplies and medicines have been received, as well as resources to take care of children in the affected areas, he concluded.