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Cuba - The United States will provide $3 million in humanitarian assistance to help Cubans affected by Hurricane Melissa, coordinating distribution through the Catholic Church instead of the Cuban government.
The aid marks one of the first direct relief efforts from Washington to Cuba in recent years, focusing on communities in the eastern provinces hardest hit by the storm.
Hurricane Melissa caused extensive damage across the Caribbean after making landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane before weakening and striking eastern Cuba.
While Cuba reported no fatalities due to large-scale evacuations of more than 700,000 residents, the storm caused severe destruction to homes, infrastructure, and farmland.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that the assistance will be delivered through trusted local partners and faith-based organizations, citing humanitarian exemptions under existing U.S. law.
The Catholic Church has previously acted as a neutral intermediary between the two nations, which remain at odds over economic sanctions and political policies.
Cuban officials criticized the U.S. decision to bypass the government, instead calling for the long-standing trade embargo to be lifted.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to send emergency teams and resources to other Caribbean nations impacted by Melissa, including Jamaica, Haiti, and the Bahamas.
As recovery efforts continue, humanitarian groups are assessing the scale of the damage and long-term rebuilding needs in eastern Cuba, where thousands remain without power or access to clean water.