The aid, coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), includes water purifiers, blankets, tents, and sleeping mats—essential items to meet immediate needs in areas affected by the rains, winds, and landslides caused by the storm.

At the donation handover ceremony at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhito Nakamura expressed his deep concern about the damage caused, especially the flooding of the Cauto River and the resulting inundations in coastal communities.

“We were impressed by the magnitude of the impact and the resilience of the Cuban people in the face of this tragedy. Japan has always stood by Cuba in times of disaster, and today we reaffirm our commitment to its recovery,” he said.

JICA’s representative in Cuba, Tatsuya Ashida, reiterated his agency’s commitment to humanitarian assistance and sustainable technical cooperation.

The Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Minex), Débora Rivas, expressed her gratitude for the “swift and generous support” of the Japanese government, a constant ally in disaster response in the Caribbean nation since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and in recent events, she noted.

The Vice Minister also emphasized that the donation “comes at an opportune moment” and constitutes “a symbol of the strength and depth of our friendship,” in the context of the upcoming celebration, on December 21, of the 96th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, she remembered.

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