美国天主教慈善组织Caritas本周在古巴首都哈瓦那附近的贝胡卡尔和阿尔基萨尔两个城镇开始分发美国人道主义援助 [1]。首批援助包含700个食品和卫生包裹，由迈阿密飞往古巴 [1]。
这批援助是美国更大援助计划的开始 [1]。美国国务院计划在未来几个月内投入总额1亿美元的援助，首期为600万美元 [1]。每个食品包裹足以满足一个家庭10天的需求 [1]，内容包括大米、豆类、意大利面、罐头沙丁鱼、金枪鱼、油、太阳能灯、水净化片、肥皂、洗涤剂和牙刷等 [1]。
援助将通过特定教区和宗教机构分发给古巴最脆弱的家庭 [1]。美国国务院外交援助、人道主义事务和宗教自由办公室官员Jeremy Lewin指出，该合作伙伴关系基于去年飓风梅丽莎后提供的900万美元援助项目 [1]。
这项援助分发在美古之间长期政治不信任的背景下进行，特朗普政府在1月份对古巴施加了能源禁运 [1]。
Caritas, a Catholic charitable organization, launched distribution of American humanitarian assistance this week in Bejucal and Arquisa, two towns near Cuba's capital. [1] The initial shipment comprised 700 food and hygiene packages flown from Miami to the island. [1]
The aid delivery marks the first phase of a larger initiative. [1] The initial distribution represents the first allocation from a project budgeted at $600,000, with plans to distribute up to $100 million in total assistance over the coming months. [1] Each food package contains supplies sufficient to sustain a family for ten days, with contents including rice, beans, pasta, canned sardines, tuna, oil, solar lights, water purification tablets, soap, detergent, and toothbrushes. [1]
The assistance targets vulnerable Cuban families through designated parishes and religious institutions. [1] According to Jeremy Lewin, an official with the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Human Rights and Labor, and Religious Freedom, this partnership builds on $9 million in aid provided following Hurricane Maria last year. [1]
The aid distribution occurs amid longstanding political mistrust between the United States and Cuba, compounded by the Trump administration's implementation of an energy embargo against the island in January. [1]