SerpApi.Org
President Donald Trump contradicted himself as the United States sent food to Cuban residents while continuing to pressure their government.
A cargo plane bound for Cuba, carrying food and hygiene kits, left Miami on Tuesday. The flight, carrying 700 packages, is meant to bypass the Cuban government, with the items being distributed directly to Cuban residents by Catholic groups in the country, according to the State Department.
The shipment is a $60 million portion of the $100 million that the U.S. offered to Cuba some time ago. It comes after months of intense pressure from the U.S. on the Cuban government and government-related institutions, focused mainly on imposing significant sanctions against the country's military and intelligence apparatus.
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The imposition of an energy and oil blockade has left the Cuban economy paralyzed, limiting the daily lives of the people on the island.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, has taken a personal interest in pressuring Cuba to make changes to its socialist system.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has suggested on several occasions that the U.S. could take military action to stop the island's communist government.
Jereny Lewin, the State Department's senior official for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs, and religious freedom, said the partnership is based on a program that delivered $9 million in direct support to Cuba last year following Hurricane Melissa.
He said challenges have included convincing the Cuban government to allow aid distribution and to agree not to intercept it or take it for themselves.
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Lewin said that since local priests and Catholic groups are distributing the aid directly, "there's very little, if any, opportunity for the regime to interfere with the delivery of the assistance."
Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, said he recently visited the island to ensure the aid was being distributed. "We're hoping that this is one small step forward on the humanitarian side," he said.
"But hopefully we'll bring the people of the United States and Cuba together into the future."
