The United States announced this Tuesday that it will contribute some two million euros, through the United States Agency for International Development, to help mitigate the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in Cuba.
State Department spokesman Ned Price explained that the US will provide this “crucial humanitarian assistance” through “trusted international partners,” working directly with “Cubans whose communities have been devastated by the storm.”
Price said the $2 million emergency aid would come through “reliable independent organizations that operate in the country and have a long-standing presence in communities affected by the hurricanes.”
The official added that the US is considering applications submitted by organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
“We support the Cuban people in their work to recover from this disaster. The United States continues to monitor and assess humanitarian needs, in coordination with our trusted partners and the international community,” Price said.
The State Department spokesman emphasized that the US government will continue to seek ways to provide “significant support” to the Cuban people “in accordance with US laws and regulations.”
According to the United Nations Organization (UN), about 3.2 million people in Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana and Isla de la Juventud, in Cuba, were affected by Hurricane Ian, which hit the island on 27 September with heavy rains and winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.
The UN estimates that one million people still need help, including more than 630,000 children.
Source: TSF
