Get help to Cubans impacted by Irma without filling the coffers of the Castro dictatorship

Hurricane Irma relief effort in Cuba: How to really help

Hurricane Irma flooded Havana neighborhoods although worse impact was elsewhere.

Cubans are in desperate need of help
Despite the official propaganda channels trying to portray a speedy government response in Cuba, independent press say different. Luz Escobar reported on September 23rd "Hurricane Victims Along Havana’s Coastline Wait for Help That Never Comes." In years past support sent through official channels ended up on sale in government stores. Independent channels are the best way to get help to Cubans devastated by Hurricane Irma. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called for a special collection for Hurricane Irma victims for the week of Sept. 23-24. The effort is to cover all the areas impacted by Irma although one can directly select which impacted countries to send aide to victims.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article173653801.html#storylink=cpy

Gathering belongings following Hurricane Irma

 Beware using official regime channels
On September 18, 2017 Babalu Blog reported that "Mariela Castro Espin, the jet-setting daughter of Cuban dictator Raul Castro, posted a request for hurricane relief donations on Facebook and included a bank account number to where donations could be sent. A little research turned up that the bank account is from the Cuban regime’s International Finance Bank and it belongs to a Cuban company named GAESA." On September 15, 2016 in testimony before the House Agricultural Committee Mauricio Claver-Carone gave the following description of GAESA:

Today, the Cuban military owns and operates one of the largest conglomerates in Latin America, known as the Grupo de Administración Empresarial, S.A., or GAESA. Its portfolio includes companies that dominate ports, trade zones, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels, real estate, retail stores, currency exchanges, gas stations, airlines, and other transportation services. Its head, Gen. Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Callejas, is Raul's son-in-law.

Sending donations through the account promoted by Ms Castro Espin will end up in the dictatorship's coffers, and will most likely not get to the average Cuban. There is an alternative with a proven track record.

Good way to get aide to Cubans
However if you want to get aide directly to the Cuban people there are other options and one of the best is through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami and  its Disaster Relief Hurricane Irma effort.

Archdiocese of Miami: To donate to Catholic Charities, visit www.ccadm.org and https://give.adomdevelopment.org/irma.

Destruction in Cojimar, Cuba

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article173653801.html#storylink=cpy

Time to demonstrate our solidarity with the Chilean People

The 8.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Chile on February 27, 2010 was 500 times stronger than 7.0 quake that hit Haiti in January. More than 700 dead so far. Earthquake affected at least 1.5 million Chileans & severely damaged 500,000 homes.

Please Make a donation to: Earthquake in Chile 2010

Please support our vital work by donating now by bank transfer or using our secure online payment system - you can make a difference to thousands of lives. Caritas Internationalis works alongside the poor regardless of race or religion, builds global partnerships for change, campaigns for a fairer world, and puts faith into action. Our key responsibilities are emergency response, advocacy and communications, international liaison and capacity building Thank you

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Massive Earthquake in Haiti: Time for Solidarity with the Haitian People

In Solidarity with our Haitian Brothers and Sisters

"Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man." - Francis Cardinal Spellman (1946)

Massive Earthquake Jolts Haiti

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti 10 miles southwest of the capital of Port au Prince at 4:53 p.m. Eastern, Tuesday, Jan. 12. More detailed information available here.

The initial quake was followed by two aftershocks.

Reliable damage and casualty estimates are unavailable at this time. CRS staffers in Baltimore have been in touch with Haiti staff. CRS/Haiti reports that those who remained at the office after 4 p.m. are safe. The condition of other CRS staff is unknown at this time (7:30 p.m. Eastern).

CRS/Haiti reports that cell phone use is unavailable. They communicated with Baltimore via land line. They reported that the CRS office building is still standing, but others, including one near the office, had collapsed. They reported that clouds of dust and smoke surround the city of Port au Prince. Before the phone connection was lost they characterized the situation as choatic, and feared many dead in what they called “a major hit … a direct hit.”

A tsunami watch was issued for Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and nearby islands.

CRS will continue to update with information as it becomes available. Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Haiti and all CRS/Haiti staff and their loved ones.

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