The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela sent its first shipment of humanitarian aid to Santiago de Cuba this Thursday, as an immediate response to the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, in a gesture of profound solidarity.
A Conviasa flight, originating from Maiquetía Airport in Caracas, landed at Antonio Maceo International Airport with medical supplies, non-perishable food, and resources for the reconstruction of homes and institutions.
Yván Gil, Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who led the delivery, stated:
“This is not a charitable donation, but rather an act of solidarity between sister nations that share history, struggle, and hope.”
The arrival of this aid coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and Venezuela, signed on October 30, 2000, by Commanders Fidel Castro Ruz (1926-2016) and Hugo Chávez Frías (1954-2013), which has since become a symbol of Latin American brotherhood.
“Twenty-five years ago, Cuba extended its hand of solidarity to Venezuela during one of its most difficult times. Today, it is our turn to stand with the Cuban people in this new adversity. This aid represents life, commitment, and a shared revolution,” affirmed Gil, visibly moved.
She noted that a similar shipment will be sent to Jamaica in the coming hours, which was also affected by the storm, and that a ship carrying an additional 3,000 tons of supplies for Cuba will depart in the coming days.
Edelva Marín, coordinator of programs and objectives for the Santiago de Cuba government overseeing trade activities, explained that this first distribution will deliver 1,000 food kits containing rice, flour, sugar, peas, pasta, beans, sardines, salt, milk, chicken mortadella, and oil to 1,000 mothers in the most affected areas of the city.
During the reception, Niurka Bell Calzado, a member of the Provincial Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba, highlighted the symbolic coincidence between the arrival of Hurricane Melissa and Cuba’s diplomatic victory at the United Nations, where the Cuban resolution against the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade was approved.
It was a powerful hurricane, but also a day of victory, and the fact that Venezuela was the first to receive aid reaffirms what was signed 25 years ago: solidarity between sister nations is not just a slogan, it is a living practice,” he stated.
The mobilization of more than 250,000 people in protection and recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa has been recognized by Venezuelan authorities as a demonstration of the organizational capacity of the Cuban socialist model.
The Venezuelan Foreign Minister highlighted President Nicolás Maduro’s constant monitoring, as well as the direct communication with his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, whom he congratulated on the recent diplomatic victory at the UN
IMAGE CREDIT: Photo: Odette Elena Ramos
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
