Hurricane Irma relief effort in Cuba: How to really help
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.
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:
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.
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| Hurricane Irma flooded Havana neighborhoods although worse impact was elsewhere. |
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.
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| Gathering belongings following Hurricane Irma |
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.
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| Destruction in Cojimar, Cuba |
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Mail a check directly to the Bishop of the appropriate diocese. This avoids the admin costs of USCCB, etc.
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