This shipment includes 528 non-perishable food kits and 660 personal hygiene kits.
14ymedio, Havana, January 16, 2026 — The city of Santiago de Cuba received on Friday the second shipment of humanitarian aid from the U.S. intended for families affected by Hurricane Melissa in several provinces in the eastern part of the country. On this occasion, the cargo includes 528 kits of non-perishable food and 660 personal hygiene kits, according to Cáritas, the Catholic Church organization in charge of distributing the aid. In its statement, the institution described the shipments as “a gesture of charity and solidarity whose goal is to alleviate some of the needs in the communities that suffered the greatest impact from the weather phenomenon.”
As warned two days ago by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, when the first plane carrying the aid promised to the Island departed from Miami after the cyclone, the U.S. is coordinating the assistance through the Catholic Church “to ensure that the aid reaches the Cuban people directly, not the illegitimate regime.” The supplies received this Friday will initially be transported to the community of El Cobre, from where their distribution to prioritized families will be coordinated, with the support of local volunteers.
The U.S. is coordinating the aid through the Catholic Church “to ensure that the aid reaches directly to the Cuban people.”
Both this shipment and the previous one, which arrived on Wednesday in the province of Holguín, are part of the Trump administration’s pledge to provide three million dollars’ worth of assistance to those affected by the cyclone. The shipments are expected to reach about 6,000 families, or 24,000 people. International organizations such as Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Germany have participated in both operations, supporting the logistics and financing of the aid.
The arrival of assistance from the U.S. has generated reactions and controversy. From Havana, Cuban authorities have reiterated their rejection of any political use of the aid, although they have said they do not oppose receiving donations. At the same time, they have resented “learning about it” through Cáritas, even though the information has been public at all times.
Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage in the eastern part of the country, affecting tens of thousands of homes and basic service networks such as electricity and water supply. Although no fatalities were officially reported, the region has not been able to recover. The arrival of these aid shipments seeks to alleviate, at least partially, the situation of families still facing the consequences of the cyclone. The provinces that will benefit from this assistance are Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma, and Guantánamo.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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