UN seeks to ease Cuba's worsening humanitarian situation

Washington (ANTARA) – The United Nations has said it will continue to do everything possible to help ease the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which is becoming increasingly difficult, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday (22 May). “We are continuing to do everything possible to ease the situation that is getting harder for the Cuban people each day,” Dujarric said at a press briefing.

On 29 January, the United States imposed tariffs on imports from countries that supply oil to Cuba and announced a state of emergency citing alleged threats to US national security. Havana says the United States is using an energy embargo to strangle the island’s economy and worsen the living conditions of its citizens.

The US State Department on 13 May announced that Washington was prepared to provide direct humanitarian assistance of USD 100 million to the Cuban people if Havana allowed it.

The announcement came a day after Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla described the offer as a “myth” and a “100 million-dollar lie.” Thereafter, Rodriguez said Havana was prepared to consider the offer, since Cuba essentially does not reject aid offered in good faith.

Then on Wednesday (20 May), Rodriguez responded to a speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Cuban people in which he stated that President Donald Trump offered a new direct relationship with the Cuban people, not through GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A), which is Cuba’s military-economic power.

Rodriguez stressed that although Rubio frequently referenced the USD 100 million aid and suggested Cuba was reluctant to accept it, Havana had actually not rejected the offer.

On Thursday, Rubio claimed that Cuba had accepted Washington’s offer to provide USD 100 million in humanitarian aid to be channelled through the Catholic Church.

Source: Sputnik/RIA Novosti-OANA