Havana – Amid the prolonged economic crisis that has made it increasingly difficult for many Cuban families to access food and basic necessities, Caritas Cuba continues to distribute humanitarian aid from the United States to those living in the most vulnerable conditions .
In a statement released by the Diocese of Pinar del Río, Bishop Juan de Dios Hernández Ruiz, S.J., explained how the resources will be allocated and the criteria established for their distribution.
“Humanitarian aid is assistance provided to people facing an extreme crisis, with the sole purpose of saving lives, alleviating suffering and safeguarding human dignity,” the Bishop said, recalling that emergency assistance is founded on the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
The aid destined for Cuba includes a humanitarian fund of 100 million US dollars, of which 60 million will be distributed through Caritas Cuba with the logistical support of Catholic Relief Services . According to Bishop Hernández Ruiz, the resources are intended to address the most urgent needs identified: “food insecurity and difficulties in accessing water.”
Priority beneficiaries are individuals and families living in particularly vulnerable conditions: elderly people living alone, pregnant or breastfeeding women facing documented health risks, children under the age of five in vulnerable situations, and persons with disabilities or those who are unable to care for themselves. The Bishop explained that these criteria are intended to ensure that assistance reaches those in the greatest need.
“This is not a permanent social assistance program, nor is it a universal right,” he stressed. “It is intended for those living in situations of extreme vulnerability.”
Each aid package includes food, essential hygiene items and supplies designed to help families cope with difficulties related to accessing and storing water. The aid, the Bishop noted, is intended not only to meet material needs but also to express the closeness of the Church to those experiencing the greatest hardship.
Responding to questions from people who have not received assistance, Bishop Hernández Ruiz acknowledged the complexity of the situation. “As a Church, we are fully aware that we cannot reach everyone, and this is a reality that causes us great sorrow,” he said. At the same time, he emphasizes that the priority is based on the degree of need: “If you do not receive assistance, it does not mean that you are not in need, but rather that there are others whose situation is even more critical.”
Caritas Cuba and the dioceses involved continue to respond to this emergency with assistance that, as Bishop Hernández Ruiz recalled, seeks “to reach our brothers and sisters most in need not only materially, but also through closeness.”
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