The hurricane left large swathes of Cuba with blackouts, fuelling discontent on the Caribbean island, especially in rural areas where the blackouts are the worst…reports Asian Lite News
The United States is offering critical emergency humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian which hit the western part of the island in late September, causing extensive damage to its power grid.
The unusual assistance announced by the State Department includes $2 million in provisions and supplies that will be delivered through independent organisations operating in the country who have a long presence in hurricane-affected communities.
“We are currently reviewing applications from organisations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to provide this assistance,” the State Department said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez expressed his gratitude for the offer from the Biden administration immediately after the announcement, Associated Press reported.
The hurricane left large swathes of Cuba with blackouts, fuelling discontent on the Caribbean island, especially in rural areas where the blackouts are the worst, it was reported.
“We stand with the Cuban people as they work to recover from this disaster. The United States will continue to monitor and assess humanitarian needs in coordination with our trusted partners and the international community, and we will continue to seek ways to provide meaningful support to the Cuban people, consistent with U.S. laws and regulations,” the State Department added.
Cuba already faced a deep energy crisis and economic turmoil before Ian, especially after a fire in August devastated an oil deposit 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Havana that was a key source of energy, AP reported.
The protests sparked by the blackouts are the biggest since mass demonstrations in 2021 triggered by similar problems. Detentions of protesters by Cuban authorities have repeatedly generated human rights complaints from international observers, including the US it was reported.