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Cuban Democratic Directorate Calls for Massive Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
By Cuban Democratic Directorate

Geneva. September 12, 2008. Cuban Democratic Directorate. Calixto Navarro, an executive member of the Cuban Democratic Directorate, spoke today before the ninth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, currently taking place in Geneva. Navarro’s statement drew the international community’s attention to the duty to offer direct humanitarian aid to Cubans after the destruction caused by hurricanes Ike and Gustav. Speaking under Item #3 on the agenda referring to international solidarity, Navarro reminded member and observer countries that “in response to natural disasters, the obligation of international cooperation is cemented in human rights law... states and international organizations have a joint and individual responsibility to cooperate in providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in times of emergency,” according to Article #2 of the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development.

 

Navarro’s addressed the Council during interactive dialogue session with Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Mr. Rudi Muhammad Rizki.

 

The statement by Directorio’s executive member, through the Centrist Democrat International, took place after a statement by the Cuban Women Federation’s (Federación de Mujeres Cubanas, FMC). This organization actively represents the Cuban government despite their claim that they are a non-governmental organization. The FMC representative stated before the forum that the Cuban government is receiving international help, contradicting dozens of testimonies received by the Cuban Democratic Directorate from those affected by the hurricanes in Cuba in recent days.

 

“We don’t know what the government is talking about. With a small battery-powered television we have seen images on Cuban TV programming of construction materials and shelters donated by the Russians. We have not seen this ourselves; nobody [from the government] has approached us even though our roofs have collapsed. We have no drinking water or food. Nothing has reached us here,” said Alexander Ortega, a young Cuban from La Coloma, a rural area in province of Pinar del Río.

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