Cuba received the first shipment of powdered milk donations from Brazil. These are the first 16 tons of a shipment that will total 48 tons and which aims to offer help in the face of the economic war measures imposed by the United States on the country. The cargo arrived at Antonio Maceo International Airport, in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel thanked the donations and expressed, on social media, his recognition for what he classified as a “gesture of genuine solidarity”.
Marcelo Durão, member of the coordination of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) brigade in Cuba, explained that these donations are part of a “humanitarian action” promoted by the Brazilian government. He also highlighted that the powdered milk will be distributed through the basic food basket intended for children aged 0 to 4 in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo.
The initiative constitutes a response to the “economic suffocation imposed by the United States Government through sanctions and blockade”, stated Durão. According to him, this policy directly affects the Cuban people, “especially the most vulnerable sectors”, including the elderly and children.
The donations were coordinated by the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the operation relies on food provided by the National Supply Company (Conab).
Durão informed that the campaign is part of other humanitarian initiatives developed since last year and added that, in the future, new donations of powdered milk, rice and beans will be organized.
Since the end of January this year, Washington has imposed an energy blockade against the island and has threatened to sanction any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. During this period, it also expanded the so-called “secondary sanctions”, directed against non-US entities or companies that maintain commercial links with the island.
These economic warfare measures worsened the deterioration of the economic and social situation in Cuba. The energy shortage forced the country to implement severe rationing in electricity supply, with blackouts lasting more than 48 hours and causing production activities to stop.
At the same time, several companies linked to sectors such as nickel mining and hotel activity left the country due to fear of suffering sanctions from Washington.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
