U.S.-Cuba Brief: 08/27/2021

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday!

This week, CDA highlights Project EL PAN. The project aims to support the Cuban people by leveraging collaboration between Americans and Cuban Americans. Donations go toward purchasing and shipping food and hygiene products to the island as it faces dire food, medicine, and material shortages amid an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

CDA, the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), the Latin America Working Group (LAWG), and other key allies in the U.S.-Cuba space have compiled and released a packet of resources including statements, analyses, and talking points that provide an overview of U.S. sanctions and restrictions that hamper efforts to provide humanitarian relief. The document, Collective Call of Action, Talking Points, and Analyses on Cuba’s Humanitarian Crisis also provides guidance on the most effective advocacy tools to alleviate the crisis in Cuba.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 7,639 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 47,131 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island, a decrease from last week. Pinar del Río reported the highest number of new cases at 914 and highest mortality rate with 15 deaths. Havana follows closely with regards to new cases at 911. The total number of cases since March of 2020 is 627,311 and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 4,984. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 08/20/2021

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday!

Please take a moment to let us know what you enjoy about our US-Cuba News Brief as well as ways you think we could improve this service. Please, reach out to CDA’s Executive Director, Jorge Quintana, at jorgequintana@democracyinamericas.org to share your feedback and ideas.

We also invite you to take some time to consider the value of CDA’s work to you, and to contribute to our mission.You make all of this important work possible, and we are grateful for your support. We need your support today because now is the critical time to promote just solutions that will benefit both the peoples of the U.S. and of Cuba. Thank you in advance for your support.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 9,764 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 46,449 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island, an increase from the previous day and the second highest daily active cases figure since the start of the pandemic. Cienfuegos reported the highest number of new cases at 2,029, however Holguín is currently experiencing the highest mortality rate per capita, with 10 deaths and 666 cases. The total number of cases since March of 2020 surpassed half a million and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 4,397. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 08/13/2021

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday!

Yesterday, Cuba reported 8,312 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 44,031 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island, an increase from the previous day. Havana reported the highest number of new cases at 1,321, however Ciego de Ávila is currently experiencing the greatest surge and highest mortality rate per capita, with 554 cases. The total number of cases since March of 2020 surpassed half a million and the total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 3,842. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…

U.S.-Cuba News Brief: 08/06/2021

Dear Friends,

Happy Friday and first week of August!

This week, CDA issued a press release urging the Biden-Harris administration to take actionable steps in removing sanctions that impede its own policy objectives. To read the full press release, click here.

Meanwhile, Jorge Quintana, CDA’s executive director, published an article highlighting the importance of alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Cuba and removing the countless restrictions on humanitarian aid under current U.S. policy. To read the full article, click here.

Groups on and off the island have begun collecting donations as Cuba continues to grapple with food and goods shortages and high COVID-19 rates.

• The Give to Cuba Campaign is collecting donations to help Cuban families access food, medicine, and hygiene products. The campaign, launched by a group of Cuban Americans, “highlights vetted organizations with a long track record of helping families in Cuba” access scarce resources.
• Global Community X Matanzas, launched by Cuba’s first independent fashion brand Clandestina in partnership with charter airline Evelop and Cuban companies Negolution and Evelop, allows individuals to donate medicines and supplies in Madrid, Spain which will then be shipped to Havana and distributed in Matanzas.
• MANDAO X DADOR, launched by Cuban lifestyle and fashion brand Dador, allows individuals to donate money to “make it possible for a Cuban family to receive a basket of locally produced food.”
• ReglaSoul’s Donation Campaign allows individuals to donate via Venmo to support the purchase of materials needed to construct a community garden in the Regla municipality of Havana, which will provide an alternative source of “food and medicinal resources” for Black families. ReglaSoul is a “Cuba based project that promotes an alternative holistic lifestyle” and that “advocates for better access to wellness resources for Afro descendants in Cuba through plant based and holistic healing events and workshops.”
• Cuban Americans for Engagement (CAFE) is collaborating with community organizations in Havana to source and distribute aid to local communities in Cuba. The campaign is asking for monetary contributions via Venmo and donations of various medicines which will later be shipped to their partners in Cuba.

Yesterday, Cuba reported 8,886 COVID-19 cases. There are currently 46,079 total active cases of COVID-19 on the island, an increase from the previous day. Havana reported a record number of new cases by far compared to other provinces at 1,537. The total number of deaths since March of 2020 is 3,259. For a graph of case numbers since March 2020, see here. For a detailed breakdown of all COVID-19 data, visit this website.

This week, in Cuba news…