International Aid and Cooperation: Japan and Mexico Support Cuba

Japan is launching a significant cooperation project to support vulnerable communities in eastern Cuba, funded with one million dollars and executed by UNICEF. The initiative will focus on enhancing water infrastructure, sanitation, hygiene, and maternal-infant health over the next 24 months in provinces such as Guantanamo, Granma, and Santiago de Cuba, particularly benefiting children, adolescents, and pregnant women in high-risk areas.

This project follows the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa earlier this year and aims to build resilience against climate change and future emergencies, emphasizing the ongoing humanitarian support from Japan to Cuba.

Meanwhile, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the continued shipment of oil to Cuba, stating that 80,000 barrels of fuel have been sent to alleviate the island's severe energy crisis, which includes blackouts lasting over 20 hours daily.

She highlighted that these shipments are part of long-standing bilateral agreements and are executed legally under humanitarian grounds. This historical support from Mexico to Cuba, dating back to at least 1994, includes financial investments in Cuban infrastructure, reinforcing the close ties between the two nations.

However, specifics about the oil shipment, such as pricing and contractual details, remain unclear, prompting questions about the legal framework surrounding these transactions. Sheinbaum emphasized that the relationship is sovereign and humanitarian, despite criticisms from U.S. lawmakers about Mexico's support for Cuba amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.