AECID sends food, hygiene, and energy aid to Cuba to alleviate the effects of Hurricane Melissa

The Diplomat The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has responded to the international appeal for aid to Cuba to alleviate the effects of Hurricane Melissa with a new aid package that includes 1,000 food and hygiene kits for 5,000 people and photovoltaic panels to support the energy needs of social centers. According to the agency, which reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the humanitarian situation in Cuba has deteriorated in recent months due to a severe energy crisis, which is affecting the operation of essential services and exacerbating the lingering effects of Hurricane Melissa, which struck the country in October 2015. Therefore, various international organizations have warned that the fuel and energy shortage has reduced the functioning of critical infrastructure: barely 500 health centers remain operational for emergencies, millions of people have problems accessing drinking water and sanitation, and 4.5 million people are at risk of food insecurity. In light of the humanitarian needs, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) will launch a new aid package that includes 1,000 food kits and hygiene kits intended to cover the basic needs of approximately 5,000 people. The kits will be purchased directly from small local cooperatives in Cuba, contributing to supporting local production. At the same time, between 15 and 20 photovoltaic panels, each with a capacity of 12 kilowatts, will be sent to Cuba to support the energy needs of social centers, such as schools and senior centers, benefiting between 15,000 and 20,000 people. “Spain maintains close coordination with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and with humanitarian actors present in the country to identify new opportunities for support that will allow us to expand assistance to the affected population,” AECID continued. In addition, this support will be complemented by the activation of the AECID Emergency Agreement with the Spanish Red Cross, valued at €160,000, for the supply and installation of photovoltaic systems in medical facilities, in collaboration with the Cuban Red Cross. The installation of these systems will guarantee a stable electricity supply to healthcare infrastructure, strengthening the continuity of essential services such as maternal and neonatal care, safe childbirth, the operation of medical equipment, and the proper storage of medicines and vaccines. These new measures come on top of the €1 million in aid announced last month to support the response of international organizations in the areas of food and essential health supplies. This contribution, channeled through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), will support interventions aimed at ensuring access to basic foodstuffs and strengthening the health response in a context of increasing pressure on health services.

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