Although it is not the first time that the country has been plunged into a context of deep economic crisis, it is the first time that it has made a request of this nature to the UN. According to the World Food Program (WFP), the Government requested that powdered milk be sent to feed children up to seven years of age. The Executive did not publicly comment on the request, but the PAM delegation in the country assured the Spanish agency EFE that it had received “an official communication” from the political authorities, ensuring that the shipment of powdered milk, which is distributed in a rationed manner in warehouses of the State, has already started.
PAM reported that it has already sent 144 tons of skimmed milk powder to the country, which should benefit around 48 thousand children, mainly in Pinar del Río and Havana. The organization, which received “an urgent request” at the end of 2023, warns of the situation of need in which the population lives, which drives the need for the Government to “mobilize additional resources” from “traditional and non-traditional donors”.
Since 2021, the country’s authorities have been reporting that they do not have sufficient supply of milk, which is due to delays in imports and limited availability of financing. At the beginning of 2022, officials from the Agro-Food Industry recognized that they were not being able to provide milk to children and pregnant women, ending up bringing the situation to a point of no return.
In February of this year, the Minister of Commerce, Betsy Díaz Rodríguez, admitted that there are many Cuban children who since February 5th have not had access to milk and assured that the Government was working to find alternatives with small and medium-sized companies. Shortly afterwards, the country received powdered milk, rice, corn and flour from Brazil, as part of a cooperation agreement between the South American country, the United Arab Emirates and Cuba.
At the end of last year, the Cuban Government launched a package of economic measures that aimed to alleviate the crisis, but which proved to be very unpopular due to the increase in the cost of living for Cubans. The authorities went back on the application of some measures and announced the resignation of the Economy Minister, after the country ended the year with 30% inflation.
However, families will continue to live in real hardship. This Friday, March 1st, the price of fuel will increase by 500%.
The economic situation in Cuba has worsened since the pandemic, also due to United States economic sanctions and internal policy decisions. The most serious gaps are due to the lack of food, fuel and medicine.
