United States and Catholic Relief Services Send First Humanitarian Flight to Cuba Under Secretary Rubio’s New $100 Million Assistance Commitment

Senior Official for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin and Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Senior Advisor Viviana Bovo joined Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Miami, Florida, on July 21 to send off the first flight of humanitarian relief under Secretary Rubio’s historic commitment of $100 million in humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people, who are suffering from the consequences of the Communist regime’s kleptocracy, brutality, and economic incompetence.

This partnership builds upon the success of the Department’s program last year with CRS and Caritas Cuba to deliver $9 million in direct support to the island following Hurricane Melissa. Today’s flight contains pre-packaged food and hygiene kits for up to 700 Cuban families. The kits will be delivered by CRS, in partnership with the Catholic Church and Caritas Cuba on the ground. Building on the success of the previous program, the direct delivery of humanitarian commodities by local parish representatives in the island will ensure critical U.S. assistance reaches everyday Cubans in need, without any opportunity for regime diversion or theft.