HAVANA, Nov 9 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The Japanese government delivered an emergency donation to help those affected by Hurricane Melissa in Cuba, in a gesture that strengthens the bonds of solidarity between the two nations.
The aid, coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), includes water purifiers, blankets, tents, and sleeping mats—essential items to meet immediate needs in areas affected by the rains, winds, and landslides caused by the storm.
At the donation handover ceremony at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhito Nakamura expressed his deep concern about the damage caused, especially the flooding of the Cauto River and the resulting inundations in coastal communities.
“We were impressed by the magnitude of the impact and the resilience of the Cuban people in the face of this tragedy. Japan has always stood by Cuba in times of disaster, and today we reaffirm our commitment to its recovery,” he said.
JICA’s representative in Cuba, Tatsuya Ashida, reiterated his agency’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and sustainable technical cooperation.
The Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Minex), Débora Rivas, expressed her gratitude for the “swift and generous support” of the Japanese government, a constant ally in disaster response in the Caribbean nation since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and in recent events, she noted.
The Vice Minister also emphasized that the donation “comes at an opportune moment” and constitutes “a symbol of the strength and depth of our friendship,” in the context of the upcoming celebration, on December 21, of the 96th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, she remembered.
Meanwhile, another shipment of humanitarian aid, containing more than 5,000 tons of food, medicine, supplies, and toys, departed from VENEZUELA bound for eastern Cuba to assist those affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The vessel, carrying 102 containers, departed from the international port of La Guaira, with the aid sent by President Nicolas Maduro through the ALBA Bank, as reported on Telegram by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Latin America, Rander Pena.
He also announced that a brigade of electricity workers is aboard the ALBA ship “Manuel Gual” to help repair the damage caused by the storm in eastern Cuba.
Accompanied by the Cuban ambassador in Caracas, Jorge Luis Mayo, Pena stated that this aid is “a direct expression of solidarity and concrete support, on behalf of the Venezuelan people.”
He stated, “These are the ships that leave Venezuela and sail the Caribbean Sea, ships full of solutions, hope, and life, crossing the same sea that imperialism tries to use to threaten peace.”
He affirmed that “these are the ships of the Caribbean Sea, ships full of solutions, hope, and life, sailing the same sea that imperialism tries to use to threaten peace. The ambassador from Havana, for his part, expressed the “eternal gratitude of the Cuban people for the Bolivarian generosity you have shown.” — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
