Cuba — Soutien Direct International Expands Its Humanitarian Efforts Across the Country

Since we began our humanitarian operations in Cuba, our mission has always been guided by a simple goal: to provide practical, compassionate, and direct assistance to families living in extremely precarious conditions.

Over the past few months, our efforts have been focused primarily on Havana, where the situation remains extremely concerning. However, in light of the increasingly dire conditions on the ground and the numerous requests for assistance from other parts of the country, Soutien Direct International is now embarking on a new and significant phase of its humanitarian work.

We are pleased to announce that our operations will now also extend to certain areas near Varadero, in Morón, and in Holguín.

The situation in Havana remains very difficult

Even though Cuba is facing a widespread crisis, Havana remains one of the most vulnerable places in the country for several reasons.

Unlike in rural areas, a large portion of the capital’s population relies almost entirely on the market for food. Many families lack access to farmland, stable supply chains, or sufficient resources to meet their basic needs.

In addition:

• frequent power outages;
• difficulties in accessing water;
• inflation;
• food shortages;
• the deterioration of infrastructure;
• and the very low incomes of many seniors and single-parent families.

Every week, our team is confronted with heart-wrenching human realities: elderly people living alone, families surviving on very little food, and parents trying to care for their children with extremely limited resources.

Our activities in Havana will therefore remain a key priority for our organization.

Morón: a situation that is also very critical

Over the past few months, we have also seen a significant deterioration in living conditions in certain cities outside the capital, particularly in Morón.

As in many parts of the country, shortages, prolonged power outages, and supply chain disruptions are taking a heavy toll on the population. Many families are living in a state of great uncertainty and must cope daily with a lack of food, medicine, and basic necessities.

Humanitarian needs there are very real, but often less visible on the international stage.

That is precisely why we believe it is important to be there.

Why expand our humanitarian efforts

This expansion is not driven by a desire for rapid growth, but rather by a very simple reality: needs are constantly increasing.

Over the course of several months, contacts, volunteers, and families from various regions reached out to us asking for support. We therefore took the time to gradually set up new local teams capable of helping us distribute food baskets directly in the field.

Our goal remains the same:
to provide compassionate, practical, and transparent assistance directly to the families who need it most.

New teams in the field

Thanks to the involvement of new volunteers and staff members, Soutien Direct International will now be able to continue its aid distributions in several regions of Cuba while maintaining its direct and compassionate approach.

This local presence will enable us to:

• to better identify needs;
• to support more families;
• to ensure better monitoring in the field;
• and to continue documenting the reality experienced by the residents.

Stops for future travelers

In the coming weeks, we will also announce the establishment of drop-off points for travelers wishing to bring material donations to Cuba.

These measures will allow us to centralize certain essential items so that we can distribute them more efficiently to our local teams and the families we support.

A humanitarian mission above all else

Behind every food basket delivered, there is a family, a story, and a very real human reality.

We firmly believe that even the smallest actions can have a huge impact when they are carried out with compassion and solidarity.