For the first time the US government publicly formalizes, through a communiqué from the Department of State, an offer of aid to Cuba valued at 100 million dollars.
It remains unclear whether the aid will be in cash or material, and whether it will be directed toward the people’s most urgent needs at this time, such as fuel, food, and medicine.
However, in light of the inconsistency of such apparent generosity—coming from those who engage in economic warfare against the Cuban people—the Cuban government does not reject foreign aid offered in good faith for genuine bilateral or multilateral cooperation.
Nor does it have any objection to working with the Catholic Church, with which it has a long and positive history of collaboration.
We are willing to hear the details of the offer and how it would be implemented.
We hope it will be free of political maneuvering and attempts to exploit the hardships and suffering of a people under siege.
The best assistance the U.S. government could provide to the noble Cuban people at this time—and at any time—is to de-escalate the measures of the energy, economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which has intensified as never before in recent months, severely affecting all sectors of the Cuban economy and society.