“We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Matanzas, Cuba, less than 150 miles from our border. Crises such as this demand an urgent and meaningful response from neighboring countries.
“Today, we call on the Biden Administration to immediately offer the appropriate assistance to facilitate international response efforts following explosions at the Supertanker Base in Matanzas. We also urge the Administration to suspend any relevant sanctions in order to expedite such a response, and to deliver much-needed humanitarian relief to the hundreds of Cuban citizens affected by this crisis, as well as the many more facing multiple and cascading crises in Cuba, including shortages of food, energy, and medicine.
“We fear that the significant recovery efforts needed in Matanzas will push an already resource-strapped Cuba closer to the brink. Now is the time to put politics aside and prioritize humanitarian engagement, environmental protection, and regional cooperation.”
Organizations Call on the US for Immediate Disaster
Relief, Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation, Suspension of Sanctions to Support the
Cuban People Amid Explosion at Cuba’s Largest Oil Storage Facility
August 9, 2022
Washington, D.C. —The undersigned organizations
call on the U.S. government to expedite technical and direct disaster relief
assistance to Cuba, engage in ongoing bilateral dialogue and cooperation, and
suspend relevant sanctions to facilitate the response and recovery from the
explosions at the Supertanker Base in the Industrial Zone of Matanzas and their
after-effects.
We are saddened to learn of the many injured, missing, and
dead as a result of the series of recent explosions at the Matanzas Supertanker
Base and subsequent uncontrolled fire at Cuba’s largest oil storage facility.
We extend our condolences to the families and communities impacted, extending from
Matanzas to Mayabeque, Havana, and beyond.
While we are encouraged to see that the U.S. and Cuban
governments are already in conversation about the U.S. providing technical
assistance, the humanitarian and medical exceptions in U.S. sanctions are
fraught with bureaucratic obstacles that impede the agile and urgent response
that is needed. We urge the White House to call for expedited disaster
relief support across all relevant agencies and extend the necessary
emergency humanitarian aid to respond to the incident and its ramifications on
the island. As such, the U.S. government should:
- Expand
technical assistance and disaster relief resources by mobilizing key U.S.
government agencies to deploy on-the-ground support directly or through
international agencies, in coordination with the government of Cuba, the
international community, and relief agencies.
- Suspend
relevant restrictions to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to
address immediate needs, including access to clean water, food, medical
care, transportation, among other areas related to energy. Specifically,
the U.S government should restore the EAR license exception (equivalent to
a general license) to permit donations to certain Cuban state-run health
and humanitarian relief entities when those donations would directly
benefit the Cuban people. Humanitarian organizations, religious groups,
and private citizens are eager to help, and restoring this exception will
enable them to assist more quickly and effectively.
- Authorize
a general license for U.S. private sector firms to provide Cuba with
assistance directly related to the current emergency and recovery.
- Build
on the immediate disaster relief measures above to provide sustained
support for the phases of disaster risk reduction and early recovery.
Cuba's current energy and economic crisis–the island’s worst
since the fall of the Soviet Union–has been an ongoing source of great
desperation and hardship. Before the explosions at the oil facility, Cubans
were already experiencing major problems due to the unstable electric system
and lack of fuel, including hours-long outages and scheduled blackouts. This
sudden loss of fuel and storage capacity infrastructure caused by the fire is
likely to aggravate the energy situation in the island and contribute to
outward migration. Facing the possible collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid, the
U.S. government could assist in these critical times by authorizing
humanitarian exemptions for the export of oil or LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas)
to the island. Furthermore, the 2017 U.S.
- Cuba bilateral oil spill preparedness and response agreement could
serve as a framework for further disaster relief and response
cooperation.
In the longer term, the U.S. government should take the
following specific actions to help break Cuba’s cycle of energy dependency:
- Relaunch
the U.S-Cuba Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Working Group to
discuss issues of energy security.
- Conduct
knowledge-sharing activities compliant with Section 515.591 of the Cuban
Assets Control Regulations to help Cuba develop an energy strategy focused
on decreasing dependence on imports from other countries.
- Incorporate
Cuba into President Biden’s proposed Clean Energy Export and Climate
Investment Initiative, a plan to promote American clean energy exports and
investments focusing on small island states in the Pacific and Caribbean
as well as the newly announced
United States-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis
2030.
Disaster relief cooperation with Cuba has a long-standing
precedent, even in the midst of a tense bilateral relationship with the United
States. In the short-term, aid is needed but the ramifications of this event
will be felt for years and require long-term commitments in disaster relief and
climate change mitigation programs to help Cuba recover.
Joint efforts by the United States and Cuba have resulted in
some of the most effective responses to natural disasters, demonstrated need on
both sides for cooperation to provide healthcare solutions, and create systems
to efficiently respond to and mitigate damage from man-made environmental
catastrophes. These efforts include informal medical collaboration in Pakistan
in 2005 and Haiti
in 2010 following deadly earthquakes, Central and West Africa in 2014 during
the Ebola epidemic, at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay in 2018
following a wildfire outbreak, and cooperation
in 2018 to coordinate pollution responses for offshore oil and hydrocarbon
spills.
Last May, the U.S. and Cuba met for the first time in
several years to discuss the implementation of the bilateral migration accords.
The Biden-Harris administration’s commitment “to pursuing constructive
discussions with the Government of Cuba” was an important first step. In light
of the terrible situation unfolding in Matanzas and Cuba’s ongoing economic and
humanitarian crisis, we urge the Administration to restart broader bilateral
diplomatic engagement with Cuba on a range of issues, which will address U.S.
national security interests and U.S. policy goals pertaining to disaster relief
and climate change mitigation, reduce bilateral tensions, adhere to U.S.
regional cooperation commitments, and mitigate future crises. Areas that will
bear fruit and already have agreements in place include: Law enforcement and
counter-narcotics; Environmental protection; Agriculture; Public Health; and
Climate Change.
Sustained support for the Cuban people is especially
critical right now as this horrible tragedy will undoubtedly accelerate the
severe energy and economic crisis, among other challenges for Cubans that have
also been exacerbated by long-standing blanket U.S. sanctions. To reduce
further suffering, the U.S. government should suspend the sanctions that
disproportionately hurt the Cuban people by expanding remittances channels;
loosening regulations on banking and online payment processing; and simplifying
end-user verification requirements for the exportation of medical supplies,
instruments, and equipment.
With only 91 miles separating the U.S. and Cuba, the 93
mile-long smoke plume emanating from Matanzas is a visual reminder that the
U.S. and Cuba are close neighbors and ongoing dialogue is critical to resolve
short-term and long-term needs of the Cuban people as well as to safeguard the
interests of the United States.
Alliance of Baptists
Center for Democracy in the Americas (CDA)
Cuba Puentes Inc.
Cuba Partners Network, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Cuba Study Group
CubaOne Foundation
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
Florida Council of Churches
Fund for Reconciliation and Development
Latin America Working Group (LAWG)
Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Ocean Foundation (TOF)
The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and
Society
Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
Appeal from Ulises Aquino,
founder and director of Opera de la Calle
This is a message to the U.S. Embassy, to the Government of
Cuba, Organizations, Artists and all people of good will.
Matanzas suffers, the entire Cuban people, is suffering a voracious fire that
threatens to prolong itself due to the impossibility of having the resources
and means to extinguish it. As a Cuban citizen, and also as a citizen of the
United States, I feel a duty to insistently and with urgency request of the US
government that you put aside all differences, and that you urgently
collaborate with the Cuban authorities at this difficult time.
It is not a question of procedures now; it is a crusade for life. Let us show
that beyond political differences there is a need for a pure space for our
peoples to breathe clean air and the right to life.
To the Cuban authorities, please request the collaboration of the United States
officially in the solution of this catastrophe that will leave deep traces in
our lives.
Original
Este es un mensaje a la Embajada de los Estados Unidos. Al Gobierno, las
Organizaciones, a los Artistas y a todas las personas de buena voluntad.
Matanzas sufre, el pueblo cubano entero, esta sufriendo un voraz incendio que
amenaza con prolongarse ante la imposibilidad de contar con los recursos y
medios para extinguirlo. Como ciudadano Cubano, y ciudadano de los Estados
Unidos, siento el deber de solicitar encarecidamente y con extrema urgencia que
dejen a un lado todas las diferencias, y que con urgencia colaboren con las
autoridades cubanas en este duro momento para Cuba. No se trata ahora de
procedimientos, se trata de una cruzada en favor de la vida. Demostemos que más
allá de diferencias políticas existe la necesidad de un espacio puro para que
nuestros pueblos respiren aire limpio y el derecho a la vida. A las autoridades
Cubanas, que por favor solicite la colaboración de Estados Unidos oficialmente
en la solución de este siniestro que dejará profundas huellas en nuestras
vidas.
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