**The World Food Program has already transported a shipment of 144 tons of skimmed milk powder in a context of deep economic crisis in the country**
Cuba has requested “urgent” assistance from the World Food Program (WFP), a United Nations agency, to facilitate the delivery of milk to children under seven years of age. Although this is not the first time that the island is going through a food crisis, Havana has never before made such a request to the UN. The government has not made a public statement on the request, but the WFP delegation in the country has said that it received “an official communication from the government” and that the shipment of powdered milk, which is rationed and distributed from state warehouses, has already begun.
The WFP — the largest humanitarian agency dedicated to fighting hunger and which provides assistance to more than 90 million people a year worldwide — confirmed to the EFE news agency that the authorities requested help “to continue the monthly delivery of one kilogram of milk for girls and boys under seven years of age throughout the country.” The agency stresses the “urgent need” and “the importance of this request” at a time of “deep economic crisis facing Cuba.” It also assured that the shortage is “significantly impacting the food and nutritional security of the population.” “This is the first time that Cuba has requested support by issuing an official communication at the highest level of management of the WFP,” the agency added, as reported by Havana Live.
The request was made at the end of last year, when the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex) sent the letter to the executive management of the WFP in Rome. They also clarified that Cuba “does not refer to any explicit time frame” in its request and that the WFP will attempt to “mobilize additional resources” from “traditional and non-traditional donors” in view of a scenario that does not show any improvement in the country’s economic indicators. The WFP has already sent “144 metric tons of skimmed milk powder,” for almost 48,000 children aged between seven months and three years in Pinar del Río and Havana.
**Lack of milk in Cuba, a recurring problem**
This is not the first time in Cuba that there have been delays or a total absence of milk in the diets of children, which the government distributes through the so-called supplies booklets, and that only children aged under seven and people with special diets due to chronic diseases receive. Since 2021, the authorities have acknowledged that they do not have a sufficient supply of the product due to delays in imports, the limited availability of financing, and vessels that can transport the milk shipments. At the beginning of 2022, agri-food industry officials stated that they were unable to deliver dietary milk to children and pregnant women. More than one complaint from elderly citizens or mothers desperate for milk has gone viral on social networks. On several occasions, the delivery of milk in Cuba has had to be replaced with syrup or added-vitamin instant soda.
This should be funded. And the underlying causes remedied.
Im thinking your Russian brothers should be helping you you out Communism is all about sharing right? Oh wait, Russia isnt communist anymore. But children should not starve over ideology.
The criteria is for children under 2 should have milk. Seven years is mighty entitled. they should ask Sudan how they manage.
Just to add that as an island that can sustain cattle, they should be able to sustain their growing population or curve their growth. That’s a lot of milk they are asking for.
A huge irony of people blaming the US for Cubas problems (outside of the fact that the embargo doesn’t include food), is that remittances from people in America make up double digit percentages of the Cuban GDP.
Legit question… Milk come from cows and cows come from other cows… Why doesn’t Cuba have cows??
OK, lets do it!!
The Cuban government made the ill-timed decision to open up their economy right before the COVID lockdowns started, they’ve yet to recover from that.
I love how Western Democracies continue to fund dictatorships with “aid”.
Trouble in the worker’s paradise?
Seems like Cuba is about to fall into the “is not real socialism” category.
As a first generation Cuban-American, fuck the Cuban government
Did they tried to ask their buddies Russia for some milk? Or russians said that in order to get some milk they must serve for russian military?
[Fun fact](https://www.wfp.org/funding/2022), the org they’re asking for more aid from, the WFP, receives $7.2B in contributions from the US, more than 50% of the total contributions. In comparison, China and Russia combined contribute about $40M, or 0.25%.
sad that need this.
yooo US has *tons* of milk aid, hit us up
This embargo the U.S. has placed on Cuba has been in place for around 65 years and has NEVER caused a regime change in Cuba. If it was ever a good idea, it certainly isn’t now, and all we’re really hurting is the Cuban people.
Don’t reply to me about how terrible the communist leadership is in Cuba. It’s completely besides the point because we’ve never been able to affect change in the communist government there.
Think about Vietnam. Also still a communist-based government, also effectively an authoritarian government that the people can’t change. Yet we now have business relationships with them. The Vietnamese people still can’t protest their government or vote in change, but they now have greatly increased standards of living, and the U.S. has a great trading partner that at least treats their people better than the Chinese Communist party, and also isn’t trying to actively undermine the U.S.
We could have a great trading partner and manufacturing partner in Cuba too.
The only reason that Cuba is treated differently than Vietnam is because of the political power of former Cuban refugees in Miami who have prospered there and have spent so much money lobbying politicians in Florida that Republican leadership has refused to consider any real change.
It’s sad and people suffer from it, including now these little children.
I would not object at all if we (US) helped out here.
stunted growth. generation of short skinny Cubans.
Ask putin
That coffee on the end is the dollar store version of Cafe bustelo. Made in new jersey. Interesting that they sell it in Cuba.
Ice cream obsessed Fidel Castro is rolling in his grave.
Russia is having money problems among other things, China is also having money problems, And venezuela isn’t worse shape than Cuba.
Cuba needs to find a new sugar daddy.
The isolationist dictatorship that doesn’t want contact with outside world is asking the outside world for help
Can we not fix the Cuban relations at this point? How bad is the Cuban dictatorship still?
Sounds like a they problem. They should ask Russia for help.
As an American it’s a shame that our State Department is so against Cuba. Ridiculous we won’t help them with the most basic things like food just because of their past history and politics. Just absolutely shameful.
28 comments
Article:
**The World Food Program has already transported a shipment of 144 tons of skimmed milk powder in a context of deep economic crisis in the country**
Cuba has requested “urgent” assistance from the World Food Program (WFP), a United Nations agency, to facilitate the delivery of milk to children under seven years of age. Although this is not the first time that the island is going through a food crisis, Havana has never before made such a request to the UN. The government has not made a public statement on the request, but the WFP delegation in the country has said that it received “an official communication from the government” and that the shipment of powdered milk, which is rationed and distributed from state warehouses, has already begun.
The WFP — the largest humanitarian agency dedicated to fighting hunger and which provides assistance to more than 90 million people a year worldwide — confirmed to the EFE news agency that the authorities requested help “to continue the monthly delivery of one kilogram of milk for girls and boys under seven years of age throughout the country.” The agency stresses the “urgent need” and “the importance of this request” at a time of “deep economic crisis facing Cuba.” It also assured that the shortage is “significantly impacting the food and nutritional security of the population.” “This is the first time that Cuba has requested support by issuing an official communication at the highest level of management of the WFP,” the agency added, as reported by Havana Live.
The request was made at the end of last year, when the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex) sent the letter to the executive management of the WFP in Rome. They also clarified that Cuba “does not refer to any explicit time frame” in its request and that the WFP will attempt to “mobilize additional resources” from “traditional and non-traditional donors” in view of a scenario that does not show any improvement in the country’s economic indicators. The WFP has already sent “144 metric tons of skimmed milk powder,” for almost 48,000 children aged between seven months and three years in Pinar del Río and Havana.
**Lack of milk in Cuba, a recurring problem**
This is not the first time in Cuba that there have been delays or a total absence of milk in the diets of children, which the government distributes through the so-called supplies booklets, and that only children aged under seven and people with special diets due to chronic diseases receive. Since 2021, the authorities have acknowledged that they do not have a sufficient supply of the product due to delays in imports, the limited availability of financing, and vessels that can transport the milk shipments. At the beginning of 2022, agri-food industry officials stated that they were unable to deliver dietary milk to children and pregnant women. More than one complaint from elderly citizens or mothers desperate for milk has gone viral on social networks. On several occasions, the delivery of milk in Cuba has had to be replaced with syrup or added-vitamin instant soda.
This should be funded. And the underlying causes remedied.
Im thinking your Russian brothers should be helping you you out Communism is all about sharing right? Oh wait, Russia isnt communist anymore. But children should not starve over ideology.
The criteria is for children under 2 should have milk. Seven years is mighty entitled. they should ask Sudan how they manage.
Just to add that as an island that can sustain cattle, they should be able to sustain their growing population or curve their growth. That’s a lot of milk they are asking for.
A huge irony of people blaming the US for Cubas problems (outside of the fact that the embargo doesn’t include food), is that remittances from people in America make up double digit percentages of the Cuban GDP.
Legit question… Milk come from cows and cows come from other cows… Why doesn’t Cuba have cows??
OK, lets do it!!
The Cuban government made the ill-timed decision to open up their economy right before the COVID lockdowns started, they’ve yet to recover from that.
I love how Western Democracies continue to fund dictatorships with “aid”.
Trouble in the worker’s paradise?
Seems like Cuba is about to fall into the “is not real socialism” category.
As a first generation Cuban-American, fuck the Cuban government
Did they tried to ask their buddies Russia for some milk? Or russians said that in order to get some milk they must serve for russian military?
[Fun fact](https://www.wfp.org/funding/2022), the org they’re asking for more aid from, the WFP, receives $7.2B in contributions from the US, more than 50% of the total contributions. In comparison, China and Russia combined contribute about $40M, or 0.25%.
sad that need this.
yooo US has *tons* of milk aid, hit us up
This embargo the U.S. has placed on Cuba has been in place for around 65 years and has NEVER caused a regime change in Cuba. If it was ever a good idea, it certainly isn’t now, and all we’re really hurting is the Cuban people.
Don’t reply to me about how terrible the communist leadership is in Cuba. It’s completely besides the point because we’ve never been able to affect change in the communist government there.
Think about Vietnam. Also still a communist-based government, also effectively an authoritarian government that the people can’t change. Yet we now have business relationships with them. The Vietnamese people still can’t protest their government or vote in change, but they now have greatly increased standards of living, and the U.S. has a great trading partner that at least treats their people better than the Chinese Communist party, and also isn’t trying to actively undermine the U.S.
We could have a great trading partner and manufacturing partner in Cuba too.
The only reason that Cuba is treated differently than Vietnam is because of the political power of former Cuban refugees in Miami who have prospered there and have spent so much money lobbying politicians in Florida that Republican leadership has refused to consider any real change.
It’s sad and people suffer from it, including now these little children.
I would not object at all if we (US) helped out here.
stunted growth. generation of short skinny Cubans.
Ask putin
That coffee on the end is the dollar store version of Cafe bustelo. Made in new jersey. Interesting that they sell it in Cuba.
Ice cream obsessed Fidel Castro is rolling in his grave.
Russia is having money problems among other things, China is also having money problems, And venezuela isn’t worse shape than Cuba.
Cuba needs to find a new sugar daddy.
The isolationist dictatorship that doesn’t want contact with outside world is asking the outside world for help
Can we not fix the Cuban relations at this point? How bad is the Cuban dictatorship still?
Sounds like a they problem. They should ask Russia for help.
As an American it’s a shame that our State Department is so against Cuba. Ridiculous we won’t help them with the most basic things like food just because of their past history and politics. Just absolutely shameful.
UN: “Best we can do is blame Israel.”