Humanitarian aid and the importance of its civic character

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Humanitarian aid and the importance of its civic character
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Gladis Linares Blanco

Cuban Women’s Humanitarian Front

Humberto Mones Laffita

Cuban Free Veterans Circle

In recent days the provision of humanitarian aid to Cuban civil society, and by extension, to the Cuban people, has become a topic of controversy. If there is something that is publicly recognized by Cuba’s governing nomenklatura it is the fact that humanitarian aid reaches the Cuban people through private and volunteer organizations of patriots in exile. One worthy example is when the Group for the Support of Democracy is named as one of the main relayers of this aid.

This contribution from the people of the United States to the Cuban people represents charity, the principles of friendship and a commitment to liberty and democracy to help people in need who are suffering difficult situations such as political prisoners, dissidents, and the population at large in the face of the disaster of a failed political system in the country.

This is indispensable to the survival of civil society. In addition to fostering relations between the people and the opposition, it also helps to break the information blockade that exists in this country, helping the population develop democratic values.

We find ourselves facing a situation where we are totally defenseless in political, economic, social and intellectual terms. We accept and welcome helping hands that allay our needs. We assume the responsibility of making sure the aid reaches political prisoners and the Cuban people. We believe there is no such thing as a frivolous expense for a Cuban who lives below poverty levels and has a right to a sweater to protect him from the cold, or to have some good chocolate, or to have a Nintendo for his children.

We are proud to know that the General Accounting Office (GAO) not once accuses any of the representatives of non-governmental organizations that send this humanitarian aid to Cuban civil society of dishonesty. Rather, these have demonstrated their transparency and integrity.

It is indisputable that diverting attention to such trivial issues as the type of sweater sent to a Cuban who needs protection from the cold, or any other ancillary issue, is nothing more than an attempt to justify an attitude against the provision of humanitarian aid. Only the simple or those with hidden malicious intentions would believe an argument along such lines. It thus constitutes an insult to the intelligence to the donors of this aid.

The Cuban government accuses us of being mercenaries, agents of the imperialist U.S., and people with no love of country simply for wanting to live in liberty and democracy. Accepting aid is vital to achieve this objective.

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