Venezuela Activates Humanitarian Bridge with Cuba and Jamaica in Wake of Hurricane Melissa

As a gesture of international cooperation and regional solidarity, Venezuela has dispatched over 40 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba and Jamaica, countries severely affected by the recent Hurricane Melissa. The shipment, sent on Thursday, October 30, contains food and essential supplies to confront the emergency.

The Republic's Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, detailed that a first consignment of 26,000 kilograms departed from the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía bound for Cuba, using aircraft from the state airline Conviasa.

Simultaneously, another aircraft from the same company took off for Jamaica loaded with humanitarian assistance.

Contents of the Humanitarian Aid

The emergency supplies sent include:

• More than 10,250 kilograms of non-perishable food

• Approximately 2,500 mattresses for temporary shelters

• At least 9,500 medicines and medical materials

• Other essential items for the affected population

Foreign Minister Gil announced that this assistance operation will remain active in the coming days, with the additional shipment of several vessels from the port of La Guaira that will transport around 3 million additional kilograms of aid to both Caribbean nations.

Historical Solidarity and Criticism of the Blockade

During the announcement, the Venezuelan foreign minister recalled that this October 30 marks the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement between Venezuela and Cuba, underscoring his country's commitment to the Caribbean region.

"While other nations focus on creating scenarios of instability in the Caribbean, Venezuela responds with concrete acts of solidarity," the minister stated.

For his part, the Cuban ambassador in Caracas, Jorge Mayo Fernández, thanked the Venezuelan support and explained that the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba has hampered the recovery of the island's northern zone, the area most affected by the hurricane and still vulnerable due to damage from previous natural phenomena.

The Tragedy of Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa has left a tragic toll in the Caribbean region:

• 32 deceased persons throughout the area

• Thousands of affected and displaced people

• Haiti as the hardest-hit country with 23 fatalities

• More than 13,800 people displaced in Haiti

• Severely damaged road, educational, and housing infrastructure

In Haiti, overflows from the La Digue river caused catastrophic flooding in Petit-Goâve, south of Port-au-Prince, where at least twenty people, including ten children, perished.

With this humanitarian action, Venezuela reaffirms its tradition of international solidarity, prioritizing urgent assistance and mutual support to alleviate the suffering of Caribbean populations affected by the onslaught of nature.