Cuba asks the WFP for help for the first time due to a lack of milk for children under 7 years of age

The government of Cuba requested help for the first time through an official communication to the management of the World Food Program (WFP) due to the country’s difficulties in being able to continue delivering milk to those under 7 years of age.

As confirmed by the WFP, the executive management of this arm of United Nationswhich is defined as ““the largest humanitarian organization in the world”received an official communication from the Government of Cuba and is already sending powdered milk to the island.

“We confirm that the WFP has received an official communication from the (Cuban) Government requesting support to continue the monthly delivery of 1 kilogram of milk for girls and boys under 7 years of age throughout the country.“, indicated in writing the WFP delegation on the island.

The UN program, which talks about “urgent need”emphasizes “the importance of this request”especially in the context of the “deep economic crisis facing Cuba”something that is impacting “significantly in the food and nutritional security of the population” from the country.

The Cuban Government had not made public either the request or the first multilateral contributions, despite the fact that it has been talking about the problem for weeks.

Letter to executive management

The multilateral organization also confirmed that “This is the first time that Cuba requests support by issuing an official communication at the highest level of WFP management,” although the program has had several projects on the island for some time.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Mincex) sent the letter to the WFP executive directorate in Rome at the end of last year.

As a result of that letter, the WFP indicated that this month it managed to deliver “144 metric tons of skim milk powder,” benefiting almost 48,000 children between 7 months and 3 years old in Pinar del Río and Havana. This represents only 6% of the minors to whom the Government intends to provide subsidized milk.

Furthermore, according to the WFP, the Cuban request “does not refer to any explicit time frame”, that is, it does not ask for support for a limited period, so the multilateral organization is seeking “mobilize additional resources.”

“We are in constant dialogue with traditional and non-traditional donors, exploring various options that facilitate both donation and financing,” stated the WFP.

Scarce resource

Milk has been a scarce commodity for years in Cuba, although in general children up to 7 years old (and people with special diets) could count on a quantity of powdered milk per month through the supply book (ration card). ), so they obtained it at a highly subsidized price (2.5 pesos per kilogram, about 21 cents).

The availability of state-sourced milk, however, has deteriorated in recent months. Some provinces have cut the prioritized population or reduced the quantities they deliver, while others have begun to distribute vitamin drinks as a substitute.

The Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, assured in mid-February on state television that given the current milk shortage it was necessary “set priorities” within the already prioritized groups.

The minister, although she addressed the problem at length, never referred to the letter to the WFP, even though by then the program was already delivering powdered milk to the island. The organization had not made this aid public either.

Faced with these difficulties, in Cuba it is possible to find liquid and powdered milk in some of the companies in the country’s emerging private sector, but at prices that are inaccessible to the vast majority of Cubans.

Cuba’s chronic economic difficulties have degenerated three years ago into a serious crisis due to the pandemic, the tightening of US sanctions and decisions in national macroeconomic, commercial and monetary policy.

As explained on its website, the WFP is a humanitarian organization “which saves lives in emergencies and provides food assistance” to “populations that are recovering from conflicts and disasters and the impact of climate change.”