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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)



Fact Sheet
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Washington, DC
September 7, 2001

Humanitarian Assistance to Cuba

Summary

The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 encourages the donation of humanitarian goods to the people of Cuba, including medicine, food, and clothing. Since 1992, the U.S. has been the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Cuba. Between 1999 and 2000, the U.S. Government authorized $873.4 million (licensed value) in humanitarian donations and $107.2 million in medicines or medical equipment. Humanitarian assistance has been distributed throughout the island, including to medical clinics and hospitals.  This does not include the millions in dollars in medicines and other items sent or carried to Cuba in gift parcels to individuals and families from their friends and relatives living in the United States.

Humanitarian Flights

In response to Pope John Paul II's call for the world to "open up to Cuba," on March 28, 1998 licensing of direct cargo flights for humanitarian shipments going to Cuba was resumed. This was done in continuance of the U.S. Government's ongoing policy of support for the Cuban people.

  • U.S. Customs regulations currently require flights to Cuba to undergo Customs inspections in Miami, New York, or Los Angeles.
  • All humanitarian exports going to Cuba are subject to Department of Commerce licensing procedures. License exemptions are granted for certain categories of humanitarian exports.
  • Individuals wishing to accompany a humanitarian shipment must obtain a license from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Additional information on export licensing of aircraft and humanitarian shipments is available from the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) at (202) 482-4252 or on its website at http://www.bxa.doc.gov

Remittances Travel Store Front

One of the most important sources of medicines in Cuba today is from the large volume of gift packages sent to Cuban nationals by organizations and individuals living abroad, especially in the U.S. Between October 1992 and the end of 2000, gift parcels and other humanitarian donations valued at over $4.3 billion had been sent to Cuba.

On January 5, 1999, then-President Clinton announced his decision to expand legal remittances to the Cuban people. Under a general license, any U.S. resident is authorized to send up to $300 each quarter of the year to any Cuban family. This expansion of remittances beyond close family members of Cuban-Americans will allow other Cubans to meet the basic necessities of life for their families, and will reduce their dependence on the Cuban Government for assistance.

  • Senior level Cuban Government and Communist party officials are excluded from being recipients except when the remittances are from close relatives.
  • U.S. citizens and non-governmental organizations will be licensed, on a case-by-case basis, to send larger remittances to entities in Cuba that are independent of the Cuban Government.
  • A licensed traveler to Cuba may carry remittances totaling no more than $300 per trip, regardless of the number of people to receive funds. Children under 18 years of age are prohibited from carrying remittances.

Additional information on remittances, including licensed remittance carriers, is available through OFAC at (202) 622-2480.


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