From online platforms, Cuba´s friends recalled damages caused by hurricane Ian and urged the White House to make possible, even for coming six months, the purchase of building materials.
Peoples’ Forum movement managed a pressing statement in the Sunday edition of The New York Times reiterating to the US government that “it really needs to act right now to aid Cuba”.
The statement stressed that the economic, commercial and financial blockade precluded Havana from collecting the necessary resources as it is currently facing up major setback due to Ian which hard hit Cuba on Tuesday damaging power grid -leaving country-wide blackout ever-, destroying houses, crops and important economic facilities.
“Although the law authorizes U.S. entities and organizations to provide disaster relief and response, it has been proven that it is not so easy, as there are long and complex processes to receive licenses that often require costly lawyers,” the document stated.
Similarly, it pointed out how Cuba’s inclusion on the White House’s List of State Sponsors of Terrorism means that banks -both in U.S. and abroad- are reluctant to process any transactions, including humanitarian donations.
“It is inconceivable at this critical time to maintain the blockade and collectively punish an entire people,” the message remarked, while calling for Joe Biden to set aside the Cold War policy, “even if only for six months!”
“The Cuban people are part of our family, the human family,” it added, while insisting that “It is time to act!”.
Following Hurricane Ian’s passage, the People’s Forum Movement shared a link to a website to receive donations and contribute to Cuba relief efforts, as well as Bridges of Love solidarity project, focused on purchasing food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
Early September, President Biden signed the extension of the so-called “Trading with the Enemy Act”, which extends the genocidal blockade and authorizes the president to impose economic restrictions through September 14, 2023.
According to Cuba´s Foreign Ministry (MINREX), this measure really ignores the world community’s rejection of that policy in force for over 60 years, “opportunistically tightened in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to destroy the Cuban people with hunger, disease and misery”.
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