U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Announces Humanitarian Aid to Cuba “in close partnership with the Catholic Church” for Recovery from Hurricane Melissa

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Jan. 14 direct humanitarian shipments to Cuba “in close partnership with the Catholic Church” helping the island recover from Hurricane Melissa.
Full Text: Delivering on Our Commitment: U.S. Disaster Assistance to the Cuban People from Marco Rubio, Secretary of State - January 14, 2026
Today, we are announcing the first in a series of direct humanitarian shipments to Cuba as part of the $3 million of disaster assistance committed by the Trump Administration following Hurricane Melissa. These shipments reflect our sustained commitment to the Cuban people as they continue to recover from the devastation. While the storm has passed, humanitarian needs remain acute, and recovery efforts are ongoing.

A U.S.-supported humanitarian flight will depart from Florida, carrying much needed relief supplies. A second flight will follow on January 16, and a commercial vessel will deliver additional assistance within weeks. These shipments include food, hygiene kits, and other essential items to help Cuban families recover and rebuild.

Consistent with our longstanding policy, we have taken extraordinary measures to ensure that this assistance reaches the Cuban people directly, without interference or diversion by the illegitimate regime. We are working in close partnership with the Catholic Church in Cuba to deliver aid transparently and effectively.

Fact sheet:
The Trump Administration is following through on our commitment to deliver $3 million in much-needed disaster relief to the Cuban people affected by Hurricane Melissa. The United States remains steadfast in supporting the Cuban people’s post-disaster recovery. The first in a series of shipments of humanitarian assistance are designed to reach those most in need, bypassing regime interference, and ensuring transparency and accountability. Our humanitarian assistance is part of a broader effort to stand with the Cuban people as they seek a better future.
Key Facts:
This support will reach an estimated 6,000 families—approximately 24,000 individuals—in the hardest-hit provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Granma, and Guantanamo.
Charter flights carrying assistance will depart from Miami on January 14 and January 16 and arrive in Holguin and Santiago de Cuba, respectively. Each flight will deliver more than 525 food kits and 650 hygiene and water treatment kits, reaching over 1,000 families. A commercial vessel scheduled to dock in Santiago de Cuba in a few weeks will carry the rest of the assistance.
Types of assistance include but are not limited to:
Food Kits: Rice, beans, oil, and sugar to help families meet basic nutritional needs.
Hygiene and Water Treatment Kits: Water purification tablets and storage containers for safe drinking water.
Kitchen Sets: Pots and cooking utensils to help families prepare meals.
Household Items: Sheets and blankets to stay warm, solar lanterns for lighting during outages, and other essentials.
We are working closely with the Catholic Church to ensure assistance reaches the Cuban people directly and without regime interference.
Source: http://state.gov/releases/2026/01/delivering-on-our-commitment-u-s-disaster-assistance-to-the-cuban-people/