The United States government has announced the delivery of $3 million in disaster relief to support Cuban communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. This aid is intended to assist families in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Granma, and Guantanamo, which were among the hardest hit by the storm.
According to the announcement, approximately 6,000 families—about 24,000 individuals—are expected to benefit from this assistance. The initial shipments will be transported via charter flights departing from Miami on January 14 and January 16. These flights are scheduled to arrive in Holguin and Santiago de Cuba and will deliver more than 525 food kits and 650 hygiene and water treatment kits per flight. This first phase aims to reach over 1,000 families. Additional supplies will be delivered by a commercial vessel set to dock in Santiago de Cuba in the coming weeks.
The relief packages include food kits containing rice, beans, oil, and sugar; hygiene and water treatment kits with purification tablets and storage containers; kitchen sets with pots and utensils; as well as household items such as sheets, blankets, solar lanterns for lighting during power outages, and other essential goods.
A key aspect of this operation is coordination with the Catholic Church to ensure that aid reaches recipients directly without interference from local authorities. The U.S. government stated: "The United States remains steadfast in supporting the Cuban people’s post-disaster recovery. The first in a series of shipments of humanitarian assistance are designed to reach those most in need, bypassing regime interference, and ensuring transparency and accountability. Our humanitarian assistance is part of a broader effort to stand with the Cuban people as they seek a better future."
Further information about the State Department’s response can be found on its official channels.
