New shipment of aid from Venezuela for those affected by Hurricane Matthew

SANTIAGO DE CUBA.—As an expression of the solid fraternal ties that unite Cuba and Venezuela, the ship AB Noble Esequibo (Tango-62), arrived for the second time to this city’s Guillermón Moncada port, with an important cargo of construction materials destined for the recovery of damage caused by Hurricane Matthew in Guantánamo province.

This fourth Venezuelan shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba totals 579 tons, including 50,000 square meters of lightweight roofing, doors, windows, frames, sanitary kits, electrical equipment, paint and tools, which will be sent to the affected areas immediately.

Commander of the vessel of the Bolivarian Navy, Captain Henry Javier Gamarra, noted: “It is an honor for us to continue working with our Cuban brothers affected by Matthew, in Baracoa, Maisí, Imías and San Antonio del Sur among other municipalities.”

He added, “In this way, we are fulfilling the mandate of President Nicolás Maduro Moros, but particularly for our officers, sergeants and enlisted troops, it is as if we were once again in the home of our brothers, because for us there is no difference between Cubans and Venezuelans.”

“Every time we are told to go to Santiago or to Cuba,” he reiterated, “it is like taking a shipment of love between brothers in solidarity, as if we were leaving for our own home, or that of a relative, so you can be sure that with great pride we will return as often as we are asked.”

On expressing gratitude for the shipment, Emilia Neuris Acuña Lemes, a member of the Party Bureau in the province, emphasized the importance of the valuable donation in terms of the recovery efforts underway following the heavy damage caused to housing in the territories hit by the hurricane.

“In this sense,” she stressed, “this aid has a double significance, as like Cuba, the Venezuelan nation does not give what it has left over, but generously shares what it has, and with the gratitude of our people, especially those of Guantánamo, we tell President Maduro and his people that they will always be able to count on their Cuban brothers.”

The representatives of Santiago present at the welcome ceremony were headed by the members of the Party Central Committee, Lázaro Expósito Canto and Beatriz Jhonson Urrutia, president and vice president of the Provincial Defense Council, respectively, as well as a by a group participating in the Strategic Exercise “Bastión 2016”.

As on previous trips, a number of the officers, sergeants and enlisted troops of the ship will visit sites of historical interest in this city during their stay.