By Deutsche Welle
The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez stated this Thursday that from the island they are “willing to listen to the characteristics of the offer and the way in which it would materialize.” the offer of $100 million dollars in “direct humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people” that the US reiterated. This, at a time when the island is subject to an energy blockade by Washington and faces massive blackouts.
“For the first time, the US government publicly formalizes, through a statement from the State Department, an offer of aid to Cuba valued at $100 million dollars“, acknowledged the head of Cuban diplomacy on his social networks. Rodríguez added that although Havana is willing to listen to the offer, they hope that “it will be free of political maneuvers and attempts to take advantage of the shortcomings and pain of a people under siege.”
The US State Department announced in a statement on Wednesday, May 13 that reiterated its offer of $100 million dollars in “direct humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people.”which would be distributed in coordination with the Catholic Church and other independent and reliable humanitarian organizations.” The note added that it was now Cuba who had to “accept the offer or reject the most crucial and must-have aid” for the island.
“Incongruity”
The head of Cuban diplomacy added in his message that There was “incongruity” in “the apparent generosity on the part of those who subject the Cuban people to collective punishment through economic war”but indicated that “the Cuban government does not have the practice of rejecting foreign aid.” He added that “it remains unclear whether it will be cash or cloth aid, and whether it will be allocated to the most urgent needs of the moment for the people, such as fuel, food and medicine.”
After pointing out that Havana has no problem working with the Catholic Church, he indicated that “The best help that the US government could give to the noble Cuban people at this and at any time is to de-escalate the blockade measures.” energy, economic, commercial and financial, worsened like never before in recent months, which severely affects all sectors of the Cuban economy.”
