The U.S. government is exploiting what appears to be a humanitarian gesture for opportunistic and politically manipulative purposes.
In the context of the intense recovery effort that immediately began in Cuba following Hurricane Melissa's passage through the country on October 29, 2025, and the solidarity assistance that also arrived from the outset, the U.S. government announced its intention to send humanitarian aid.
Seventy-seven days have passed. On January 14, the U.S. State Department publicly announced that some of the aid would arrive in Cuba. At no point has there been official communication from the U.S. government to the Cuban government to confirm this shipment.
It was the Cuban Catholic Church that contacted the country's authorities with information that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops intended to be the channel for sending material assistance to Cuba provided by the U.S. government.
As a matter of principle, Cuba does not oppose assistance from governments or organizations, provided it benefits the people and the needs of the victims are not used for political gain under the guise of humanitarian gestures.
Contributions received through any channel are organized and distributed in Cuba through the government authorities officially mandated to do so, with the participation of organizations, such as the Catholic Church and others, with a proven track record in these types of processes.
Cuba accepts this donation without conditions, understanding that it is a gesture from the American people, who, through their contributions, support the public funds used by the government.
Material assistance from the U.S. through this channel will, of course, be allocated to the victims and affected communities, although it represents only a fraction of the effort of the Cuban people and government and of the aid received from various parts of the world, including U.S. organizations not affiliated with the government.
The State Department may continue to lie about Cuba, but it cannot distort the facts.
Havana, January 14, 2026