Thursday, September 14, 2017

World Solidarity in the Wake of Irma's Devastating Path Across Cuba
Numerous expressions of solidarity have reached our country which was hit hard by the powerful hurricane, impacting almost the entire island

International news staff | informacion@granma.cu
September 14, 2017 14:09:38

Numerous expressions of solidarity have reached our country which was hit hard by the powerful Hurricane Irma over a period of several days, impacting almost the entire island.

From Bolivia, President Evo Morales called on his compatriots to share the little they have with those affected by natural disasters. The government of this South American country also reported that a contingency plan is being readied to send humanitarian aid to Cuba.

Another regional leader, Salvador Sánchez Cerén in El Salvador, took to his Twitter account and expressed to the Cuban people and government "our solidarity in the face damage caused by Hurricane Irma,".

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza extended his "unconditional solidarity with the sister people of Cuba. You can count on Venezuela to overcome the damage of Hurricane Irma."

Ecuador's Foreign Minister, María Fernanda Espinosa, sent greetings and "our solidarity with the people of Cuba who face the passage of Hurricane Irma," she wrote on her Twitter account.

The Andes news agency reported that the Cuban ambassador in Quito, Rafael Dausá, thanked Ecuadorian authorities for their offer of help.

Dausá indicated that he held a brief talk with President Lenin Moreno and expressed the country's infinite gratitude. "He asked me how Ecuador could help and we told him that we would give him concrete information shortly, about what Ecuador could do," adding, "Ecuador's help would be welcome."

The president of Ecuador's National Assembly, José Serrano, announced his government's willingness to send emergency assistance to Cuba and other Caribbean islands struck by Irma, on his Twitter account, reported PL.

Likewise, Dominican President Danilo Medina sent a message to Cuban authorities in which he expressed his willingness to help the Cuban people confront the damage caused by Hurricane Irma.

Medina was in communication with Cuba's ambassador in Santo Domingo, Carlos Jesús de la Nuez, to whom he reiterated his support for the Cuban people in times like these.

Also via Twitter, Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski expressed his solidarity with countries affected by Irma and his country's readiness to help.

Kuczynski said that he was astonished by the devastating impact of Irma and added, "Peru is ready to offer help."

On the other side of the planet, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his country's solidarity to First Deputy Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina, after Irma struck Cuba.

Wang commented that the Chinese population, united in spirit with the Cuban people, are very concerned and following developments closely.

The secretary general of the Communist Party in Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, sent a message to Cuba addressing the human and material losses here.

Bidding farewell to the exiting Cuban ambassador, Herminio López, Nguyen asked the diplomat to convey his empathy to President Raúl Castro, to the Communist Party, and the people of Cuba, at this difficult time.

A message from Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation expressed "profound grief given the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma's path across Cuba," and lamenting "the very severe material damage caused, as well as the displacement of a million persons."

The communiqué expressed solidarity with the people and government of the island "at this difficult time."

Support for our country was also forthcoming from the United Nations. Cuba's permanent mission at the UN, received, via telephone calls and social networks, dozens of expressions of support and readiness to help the country facing human and material losses in much of its territory. In this context, the executive director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, announced that he will visit Caribbean countries struck by Irma, among them Cuba.

Cuba's ambassador to the UN, Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, received a message from Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, head of the General Secretary's office, with the following text: "All my solidarity, Ana, given the impact of Irma in Cuba. The UN's support is of course at your disposal. With an embrace, Maria Luiza."

Also from New York where several international organizations have headquarters, a regional UN agency the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean sent a message of solidarity, offering its support and collaboration.

At the beginning of a concert by Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodríguez in the city's Central Park, September 10, Melissa Mark-Viverito, New York City Councilspeaker, emphasized the support our country has provided others in the Caribbean hit hard by the hurricane.

"Thank you Cuba," she said, adding that she hoped this kind of support would now be extended to our country by others.

From another part of the hemisphere, the Communist Party of Brazil (PCB) expressed its unconditional solidarity with the people, government, and Communist Party of Cuba, given the damage caused on the island by Irma.

The PCB note stated, "Even at this time of hardship, when an intense meteorological phenomenon has impacted your entire territory, Cuba offers another demonstration of its strong socialist mettle, providing immediate solidarity and help to neighboring countries - also hit by the hurricane - with the sending of teams of doctors and specialists."

Other political figures commented after the hurricane struck Cuba: Javier Couso, a European parliament deputy from the Izquierda Unida, sent a message of solidarity to the Caribbean, especially our nation which he said would "overcome this difficult moment."

Rodrigo Londoño, alias Timochenko, president of the Alternative Communal Revolutionary Forces, the political party recently founded by former FARC guerrillas in Colombia, stated, "Cuba has shown the world solidarity. Let us embrace the Cuban people who have been impacted by the passage of Hurricane Irma."

The Nicaraguan government was one of the first to send a message of support:
“To our beloved sister Cuba, our Caribbean Cuba, there resisting with all that organization it is known for,” read a message sent by Vice President Rosario Murillo.

She highlighted the Cuban government and people’s ability to “face all these disasters and endeavor, above all, to protect lives.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, ordered agencies in his country to implement a plan to aid and support Cuba.

The Xinhua news agency reported that Maduro issued the statement while traveling to Kazakhstan, where was participating in the Islamic Cooperation Organization Summit, representing the Non Aligned Movement.

"I have given instructions to activate all support for our sister people of Cuba. From Kazakhstan, my active solidarity," he wrote on his Twitter account.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced his willingness to provide help to Cuba to mitigate the consequences of Hurricane Irma, stating, "Yes, we are ready," in response to a question by a Prensa Latina correspondent in Moscow, where elections were taking place on Sunday, September 10, according to Sputnik.

The Russian leader added that the country's Minister of Emergencies, Vladimir Puchkov, had already offered assistance.

In Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos stated that he was concerned upon hearing of the damage caused in Cuba by Hurricane Irma, adding that Colombians are very worried about the situation, and ready to help in whatever way needed.

Argentina's government also expressed its solidarity with Cuba in a communiqué released by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Religion, expressing its solidarity "with the Cuban people."

Just hours after a devastating earthquake struck Mexico, President Enrique Peña Nieto wrote on Twitter, "Mexico expresses its unwavering support and solidarity with the people of Cuba, who at this time face the force of hurricane #Irma."

Cuba's ambassador in Dominica, Juan Carlos Frómeta, received messages from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Foreign Minister Francine Baron, expressing concern given the damage cased by the hurricane in Cuba, and reaffirming their solidarity with the country.

Also of note was Panama's organizing of an airlift to send 90 tons of humanitarian aid to Caribbean islands devastated by Hurricane Irma, according to the nation's Secretary of Communication.

"Thanks to the support of Copa Airlines and Panamanians, people in Cuba and the Caribbean will receive 200,000 pounds (90 metric tons) of aid," said President Juan Carlos Varela, who emphasized that his nation has begun an assistance operation unprecedented for Panama.
President Varela, indicated on his Twitter account that a Joint Work Force (FTC), had been activated, including forces from the country's security and rescue agencies, "to give support to Caribbean islands and Cuba affected by Hurricane Irma.

"The impact of #Irma on Cuba is severe. This country has shown much solidarity toward Panama. Let us all prepare ourselves to support the Cuban people," the head of state added.

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