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Cuba

Guide to humanitarian & development efforts of InterAction member agencies in Cuba Dec 2001


Background Summary
Spanish control over Cuba began late in the fifteenth century after settlers set up permanent residence on the island. Plantation societies dominated as conditions were favorable for sugar cane and tobacco, and the slave trade increased. In 1898, after the Spanish-American war, the Treaty of Paris gave the United States control over Cuba. In 1902, the United States granted Cuba independence with a proviso that allowed the US Navy to maintain a naval base at Guantanamo Bay. From 1902 until 1959, Cuba was intermittently ruled by various military figures. The last of these was Fulgencio Batista. Batista ruled Cuba beginning in 1933. Known for corruption and violence against any opposition, Batista eliminated all resistance. In 1955, students who protested against Batista lost their leaders to prison and death. In 1959, a Marxist revolution initiated by Che Guevara and Fidel Castro led to the overthrow of the Batista regime and the expulsion of many political opponents. In 1961, Fidel Castro declared Cuba a Socialist state and forged a relationship with the USSR that resulted in significant Soviet economic assistance. The United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba during this time, initiated a trade embargo, and staged an unsuccessful anti-Castro invasion by exiles in 1961.

In the first two years of the Revolution, over 200,000 citizens fled from Cuba to the United States. The number of Asylum seekers from Cuba continued to be high, into the 1980s. During these decades, the USSR supported Cuba with subsidies of over 5 billion USD in aid annually. After the disbanding of the Soviet Union, Cuba's main source of outside assistance came to an end. The termination of aid from the USSR and the American trade embargo left Cuba in a difficult position. A shortage of oil and raw materials ensued and businesses shut down due to supply shortfalls. Production dropped dramatically, unemployment rose, and an economic depression ensued.

With U.S. development assistance banned by the American Congress, humanitarian aid to Cuba has been the only form of assistance possible. It has been primarily focused on various natural disasters. Cuba's climate and geographic situation make it vulnerable to recurring damage by tropical storms and hurricanes. In 1985, Hurricane Keith affected over 450,000 individuals, destroyed over 4,000 homes, and damaged crops worth millions of dollars. A severe nutritional deficit and the continuing economic decline had negative effects on health services.

Tropical storms in 1993 and 1994 flooded crops, contributing to the economic difficulties. In 1996 hurricane Lili took a severe toll on the livelihoods of Cuban citizens, destroying over 6,000 homes, damaging over 92,000 and prompting appeals from a number of aid agencies for millions of dollars in assistance.

Disaster of another kind struck in 1998, when less than half the average rainfall fell, causing severe drought. Attributed to El Niño, the drought undercut crop production significantly. An estimated 267 million USD in lost crops further damaged the Cuban economy and Cuba once more faced widespread malnutrition and famine.

Tensions between the United States and Cuba led to problems involving delivery of humanitarian goods.

In recent years, The Clinton administration promoted several initiatives to improve U.S. relations with the Cuban people and to counter near universal condemnation of its economic blockade of the island nation. One was authorization of the sale of food to independent NGOs to provide immediate humanitarian relief to the most severely affected areas after hurricanes or other natural disasters. Others included increased direct passenger flights to Cuba, the expansion of people-to-people contacts, and increased sale of medicines. These initiatives were to help the Cuban people without strengthening Cuban government.

The biggest challenge to humanitarian assistance in Cuba is the continuing hostility between the United States and the Cuban government. In more recent years, NGOs have found a less hostile environment. The majority of American NGO-work in Cuba centers around medical assistance and natural disaster relief. NGOs are involved with the transfer of medical technology as well as with directly supplying needed materials. NGOs are also working with local communities to improve nutrition and food production.

Report Summary

This Guide offers international agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media, and the public an overview of the humanitarian assistance being provided to the people of Cuba by InterAction member agencies.

Eleven member organizations currently conduct relief and development operations within Cuba. Eleven sector areas are addressed in programming and development including: agriculture and food security, business development, capacity building, diplomatic relations, disaster and emergency relief, education and training, environmental development, gender issues, health care, rural development, and water and sanitation.

The NGOs in this report have presented various objectives for their projects in Cuba. Among the most important is to provide adequate nutrition and health care to the people of Cuba. Medical supplies and medical knowledge are exchanged through NGOs working in the region. Challenges include poor diplomatic relations between the USG and the Cuban government. This has resulted in NGO intervention pertaining to political issues in addition to humanitarian assistance. Disaster and emergency relief are vital for an island that experiences natural disasters almost annually.

Many NGOs have developed working relationships not only with each other, but also with both local and international partners. Some of the organizations include: CIDA, CIC in Cuba, and the PAHO/WHO.

Organizations by Sector Activity

Agriculture and Food Security

CARE
Catholic Relief Services
Oxfam America

Business Development, Cooperatives, and Credit

CARE
International Aid
Oxfam America

Capacity Building

Catholic Relief Services

Political Relations

American Friends Service Committee
Oxfam America

Disaster and Emergency Relief

Church World Service
International Aid
Oxfam America
Stop Hunger Now
US Fund for UNICEF

Education and Training

American Friends Service Committee
Catholic Relief Services
International Aid
Operation USA
US Fund for UNICEF
Oxfam America
Physicians For Peace

Environmental Development

American Friends Service Committee
Gender Issues and
Women in Development
Church World Service
International Aid
Oxfam America

Health Care

Catholic Relief Services
Church World Service
Global Links
International Aid
Operation USA
Physicians For Peace
US Fund for UNICEF

Rural Development

CARE
Oxfam America

Water and Sanitation

US Fund for UNICEF

Glossary of Acronyms

Acronym InterAction Member

AFSC: American Friends Service Committee

CRS: Catholic Relief Services

CWS: Church World Service

IA: International Aid

UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund

AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

CIC: Cuban Council of Churches

CIDA: Canadian International Development Agency

FY: Fiscal Year

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus

MT: Metric Ton

NGO: Non-Governmental Organization

PAHO: Pan American Health Organization

UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund

USD: United States Dollars

USG: United States Government

WFP: World Food Programme

WHO: World Health Organization

American Friends Service Committee

US Contact

Richard Erstad
Director, Latin America and Caribbean Region
American Friends Service Committee1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: 215-241-7146
Fax: 215-241-7026
Email: derstad@afsc.org

Introduction to American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

Founded in 1917 to provide conscientious objectors with an opportunity to aid civilian victims during World War I, today the AFSC has programs that focus on issues related to economic justice, peace-building and demilitarization, social justice, and youth, in the United States, and in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

American Friends Service Committee in Cuba

The over-arching goal of the Cuba program has been the opportunity for full, open and reciprocal diplomatic, economic, political and cultural relations between Cuba and the other nations of the world and its multilateral institutions, along with normalization of relations between the Governments of the United States and Cuba, a normalization which includes broad reconciliation between the peoples of the two countries.

The specific objectives to achieving this goal are:

1) To strengthen non-governmental organizations as a positive force in Cuba and in Cuba's evolving understanding of the role of civil society.

2) To encourage in Cuba, in collaboration with local partners, exploration of economic policy options that encourage sustainable and equitable development.

3) To provide information and analysis to policy-makers and the US public in order to encourage challenges to and constructive changes in US policy towards Cuba.

For several decades, the AFSC has taken a lead role in promoting reconciliation between the United States and Cuba. It has helped build relationships among US, Cuban, and developing country NGOs, thus creating a strong base of contacts and experience for future work in the region. The program has also focused on policy change in the United States, pressing for an end to the embargo against Cuba.

In an effort to enhance Cuban/Caribbean NGO connections and joint work on issues of mutual concern, the AFSC along with a Cuban partner (Centro Felix Varela) and UNESCO-Latin America, co-sponsored a major conference in Cuba, Ethics and the Culture of Development: Building a Sustainable Economy, in June 1998. Three hundred participants from 32 countries attended. A network on sustainable development formed as a result of the conference. To strengthen this network, the AFSC has carried out a series of technical and professional exchanges on health, socially responsible enterprise, communications, environmental education, water resources, and architectural planning.

AFSC continues to coordinate further conference follow-up activities with partner organizations in Cuba. Another priority is to help Cuban civil society partners build institutional ties and undertake activities with related groups elsewhere in the world, especially the Caribbean region. In the United States, staff collaborates with other organizations to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba and build public awareness of the need to normalize relations.

In Cuba major program partners for AFSC are: Centro Felix Varela, Centro Memorial Martin Luther King, Cuban Quaker Churches, the Cuban Ecumenical Council, Fundación Hombre y Naturaleza, and the Center for European Studies.

In the US, AFSC partners in advocacy work on US policy issues with: Oxfam-America, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Latin America Working Group (15 organizations), Global Health Council Washington Office on Latin America and Latin America Studies Association -Cuba Section.

CARE

US Contact

Allen Clinton
151 Ellis St. NEAtlanta, GA 30303
Tel: 404-979-9206
Email: clinton@care.org

Cuba Contact

Steve GilbertCalle
Este #18 e 37 y ParqueNuevo VedadoCiudad
La Habana
Email: carecuba@ip.etecsa.cu

Introduction to CARE

CARE's mission is to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world. Drawing strength from our global diversity, resources and experience, CARE promotes innovative solutions and advocates for global responsibility. CARE facilitates lasting change by: strengthening capacity for self-help, providing economic opportunity, delivering relief in emergencies, influencing policy decisions at all levels, and addressing discrimination in all its forms. Guided by the aspirations of local communities, CARE pursues their mission with both excellence and compassion because of CARE's belief that the people whom they serve deserve nothing less.

CARE in Cuba

CARE has worked in Cuba since 1995 principally in the sectors of food and rural water and sanitation with an average yearly budget of 200,000 USD. CARE Cuba's current directions include: creation of models for economically sustainable agricultural production, assistance to the fledgling local NGO movement, and rural development emphasizing community participation. All of CARE's work in Cuba is carried out by locally based non-governmental organizations with direct input from CARE in project design, monitoring, evaluation and financing.

CARE's program highlights include:

Assistance to Ministry of Education Food Production and Preparation

Located in the provinces of Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos, this recently finished project assisted the Ministry of Education to improve both the quantity of food produced and the quality of meal preparation for Cuban school children. This two-year project assisted schools and their students to produce 1,600 MT of vegetables through seed farms, school gardens and Ministry of Education farms. The project also assisted school kitchens to improve the quality and hygiene of their meal preparation with needed equipment such as fuel-efficient stoves, kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies. These kitchens feed over 28,000 school children.

Model of Economically Sustainable Milk Production

Most of the agricultural land in Cuba is organized into state-owned co-operatives, the majority of which are not currently economically viable. This project begun in 2000 is working with one such co-operative to produce an economically sustainable production of milk, a priority product that Cuba currently imports. The project involves training of local co-operative leaders and workers, incentive systems, capital equipment purchases, diversification of production and USD sales to the tourism sector. This co-operative will serve as a model for potential changes to this important sector of the economy. This program is located in the province of Villa Clara.

Family Animal Production

Through the provinces of Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos, CARE assists low-income families with training and access to equipment in order to promote private breeding of rabbits, chickens and sheep. This initiative assists families to increase their monthly income as well as increase their intake of animal proteins.

Model Housing Program

With projected sites in Rosa La Bayamesa, the Province of Granma, this project seeks to demonstrate an alternative model of house construction in the marginal barrio of Rosa La Bayamesa. Twenty local families will work with local architects and builders to design and build their own houses using low-cost earth-based building materials. The project will also work with local authorities to analyze local housing needs and potential programs to address those needs.

All projects undertaken by CARE in Cuba are implemented in collaboration with local non-governmental organizations with approval and involvement of governmental organizations. Funding for these projects is approximately 200,000 USD annually by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Catholic Relief Services

US Contact

Anthony Eterno
Global Solidarity and Justice
Latin America and Carribean Region
209 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Tel: 410-625-2220 X3488
Email: aeterno@catholicrelief.org

Introduction to Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

The fundamental motivating force in all activities of Catholic Relief Services is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice in the world. The policies and programs of the agency reflect and express the teaching of the Catholic Church. At the same time, CRS assists persons on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality.

Catholic Relief Services in Cuba

Catholic Relief Services program support is directed to and through Caritas/Cuba. Assistance has focused on aid to vulnerable groups: the elderly, chronically ill, young children and families in need of pre and post-natal care. Since the early 1990's CRS has delivered over 20 million USD in food, clothing, medicines and medical supplies to Caritas for distribution through provincial hospitals, homes for the elderly and to other vulnerable groups. Both Caritas of Cuba and CRS have embarked on a joint planning process, which will include substantial involvement by Catholic Relief Services to serve as a resource for Cubans and US diocesan groups who reach out to their brothers and sisters on the island.

In 2001, CRS/Cuba supported the Matanzas Pig Project, as well as provided Humanitarian Assistance programming and Global Solidarity Partnership projects.

The Caritas/Matanzas Pig-Raising Project

The Caritas/Matanzas pig-raising project works to empower local farmers who own their own land and those who work state lands. The project also provides training in the breeding and care of pigs according to the methods the farmers' grandfathers used to great success.

Caritas/Cuba's Humanitarian Assistance

The humanitarian assistance efforts, through CRS, have been successful in acquiring insulin for child diabetics or antibiotics for people with AIDS. Caritas is also working extensively with those with Downs Syndrome and the elderly.

CRS/Cuba's Global Solidarity Partnership Program

The Global Solidarity Partnership program seeks to bring dioceses from the U.S. and Cuba together. In December 2000, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis visited the Archdiocese of Caritas/Cuba in order to foment a Partnership. Also, in May 2001, CRS/Cuba hosted a group of seminarians in order that they might observe and understand the work of Catholic Relief Services first-hand.

CRS/Cuba works in conjunction with Caritas/Cuba implementing projects in Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Camaguey, Santiago de Cuba, among other cities and provinces.

CRS/Cuba reaches a total of 28,050 direct and indirect beneficiaries. The projected value for FY 2002 programming in Cuba is 1,494,660 USD.

Church World Service

US Contact

Donna J. Derr
CWS Washington, DC110
Maryland Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Tel: 202-543-1297
Email: donnajderr@aol.com

Introduction to Church World Service (CWS)

Church World Service partners with churches and organizations in more than 80 countries, working to meet human needs and foster self-reliance for all whose way is hard. CWS works worldwide on behalf of 36 Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox communions in the US, in programs of social and economic development, emergency response, assistance to refugees, education and advocacy, and ecumenical relationships.

Church World Service in Cuba

CWS has had an ongoing humanitarian assistance appeal for Cuba. Since 1992, Church World Service has sent more than 50 shipments to Cuba under a license from the United States Department of Commerce to provide humanitarian aid to Cuba. Aid has been distributed through the Medical Commission of the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC). The council has a membership of 40 churches and denominations and this year celebrates its 60th anniversary.

For the year 2000 and through January 2001, CWS sent 558,049 USD of donated medical equipment and supplies to the CIC. The total declared value of assistance from CWS to Cuba since 1992 now totals more than 3.27 million USD. Since 1993 the CIC's Medical Commission has helped distribute the humanitarian assistance provided by CWS and other partners, believing that the church must work at the community level if it is to have any credibility within society.

The Medical Commission has worked with a small staff and some 200 volunteers on providing health assistance, including workshops on a number of topics, including alcoholism, reproductive health, women's health, health concerns for the elderly, to more than 4,000 people. A component of several programs - including the one targeted for the elderly -has included food assistance.

CWS's partner in Cuba is the Cuban Council of Churches.

Global Links

US Contact

Angela Garcia
Global Links
4809 Penn Ave. #2
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Tel: 412-361-3424 Ext. 201
Email: agarcia@globallinks.org

Introduction to Global Links

Global Links is dedicated to recycling surplus medical supplies and equipment for use by healthcare institutions in developing countries. To achieve this mission, Global Links collects batch and single item supplies and equipment that are still valuable but are no longer in demand in the United States due to procedural excess, technological change, regulatory requirements, or production overage, and distributes them to selected healthcare facilities in developing countries.

Global Links gives US healthcare providers and suppliers an environmentally and socially responsible alternative to the disposal of medical materials, while simultaneously aiming to ensure that one hundred percent of the medical materials it ships are needed and can be used. Global Links' programs serve healthcare facilities in developing countries, regardless of their religious or political affiliations, which provide medical care to people in need. Global Links continues to identify opportunities to improve its current programs, while striving to expand its efforts by increasing the quantity of medical supplies that are recycled and the number of recipients who can make use of them.

Global Links in Cuba

In Cuba, Global Links help improve the level of healthcare provided at institutions serving the poor through donations of medical supplies, equipment and furnishings.

In 1994, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) asked Global Links to consider undertaking a program of medical material aid in Cuba. PAHO officials expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in the health sector there. Cuba had achieved health indicators comparable to those of the U.S. and Western Europe. However, the extreme economic hardships of the early 1990's had begun to erode these achievements. Despite a large corps of physicians and other medical personnel, and many relatively sophisticated facilities, Cuban hospitals lack many basic supplies needed to continue providing services to patients. PAHO/WHO's mandate to promote public health throughout this hemisphere has led to several forms of aid to Cuba to help to maintain the high quality of the health care system.

After an initial assessment visit in February 1994, Global Links agreed to undertake a donation program. Since then, 47 major shipments of medical supplies with a total value over 55 million USD have been delivered, and distributed by PAHO/WHO directly to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies throughout the country. The donations have included such high-priority items as antibiotics, anti-hypertension medication, pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs, hemodialysis machines and blood tubing, surgical sutures, endotracheal tubes, patient monitoring equipment, bulk drums of soap and disinfecting products, clinical and research journals, and orthopedic supplies and accessories including prostheses for hip replacement surgery. In 1997, Global Links shipped nearly 30,000 new medical textbooks donated by a major US publisher, the largest infusion of new medical books into Cuba in this decade. In 2000 and 2001 Global Links sent a large donation of dialysis machines and supplies through a special project to support the country's dialysis services. Like all Global Links programs, this is a humanitarian effort undertaken without regard to political considerations. Global Links has applied for and received all required licenses from the US government for the shipments. Careful records are kept regarding the distribution and use of all goods shipped.

Global Links works with healthcare institutions throughout Cuba. They receive funding from the Pan American Health Organization, several national foundations and private donors. In Cuba, Global Links works directly with the local office of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), as well as the local health authorities.

International Aid

US Contact

Jerry Dykstra Media Relations Manager
International Aid
17011 W. Hickory Street
Spring Lake, MI 49456
Tel: 616-846-7490
Email: dykstraj@internationalaid.org US Contact

Sonny Enriquez
Team Leader for Relief
International Aid
17011 W. Hickory Street
Spring Lake, MI 49456
Tel: 616-846-7490
Email: enriquezs@internationalaid.org

Cuba Contact

Flor Toledo-Juarez
Email: rodolfo@ip.etecsa.cu

Introduction to International Aid (IA)

International Aid is a nonprofit, faith-based, development and training agency that links caring people and organizations with partners worldwide, changing lives through the power of compassion. Through its emergency relief, medical support and global development services, International Aid reaches out those in need around the world regardless of nationality, ethnicity or creed.

International Aid in Cuba

The short-term strategy of International Aid in Cuba is to provide relief in the wake of Hurriciane Michelle. IA's overall objective Cuba is to engage stakeholders in the United States to participate in the creation of links with their Cuban counterparts to enable the latter to assume a larger and more meaningful role in society. Presently, disaster relief work, supplies, medicines and water filtration systems are being provided for those affected by Hurricane Michelle.

Training in many areas is needed in Cuba. There are no schools of business or social work in Cuba that can provide short-term seminar-workshops. There are ongoing requests for training in project design, accounting, reporting, project management, evaluation, health surveys and in many other areas. This will be the focus of IA's long-term engagement.

The disaster relief work is focused on Matanzas Province. The development work is planned for the areas surrounding Havana City and there are plans to expand this throughout the Cuban provinces.

Funding for International Aid efforts comes from private sources.

Operation USA

US Contact

Operation USA
8320 Melrose Ave. #200
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Tel: 323-658-8876
Fax: 323-653-7846
Email: rwalden@opusa.org

Introduction to Operation USA

Operation USA assists developing communities in the United States and abroad in addressing problems relating to natural and man-made disasters and chronic poverty through the creation of sustainable health, nutrition and disaster response programs. Operation USA provides essential materials, training and advocacy, and financial support for these programs.

Operation USA in Cuba

Operation USA has been involved with Cuba for four years. The specific mission in Cuba is providing medical supplies, medical training and fostering knowledge exchange visits. The Cuba program grew out of the denial of US manufactured supplies and equipment to Cuban health facilities.

Cuba Medical Assistance Project

The main focus of Operation USA consists of shipping medical supplies, setting up actual knowledge visits to and from Cuba and the US and exploring ways to use new technologies such as telemedicine between the two countries. Cuban pediatricians fly in to Los Angeles to look at warehouse stocks for replenishment of supplies. Needs assessment visits by Operation USA staff are made to the medical facilities in Cuba. The supplies are then shipped by way of Canada or direct flights from Los Angeles. Operation USA also aids in training or training curricula for Cuban facilities by way of the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

The main partner organizations with Operation USA in Cuba are the JM Marquez Pediatric Hospital, William Soler Pediatric Hospital, Centro Habana Pediatric Hospital, Pinar Del Rio Pediatric Hospital, and the Cuban Council of Churches.

Oxfam America

US Contact

Minor Sinclair
Cuba Program Officer
Oxfam America26 West Street
Boston, MA 02111
Tel: 617-728-2503 800-77-OXFAM
Email: msinclair@oxfamamerica.org

Introduction to Oxfam America

Oxfam's overall mission is to seek lasting solutions to the global problems of poverty, hunger and social injustice.

Oxfam America in Cuba

Oxfam supports Cuban partners in promoting food security, community development, and popular participation. Oxfam aims to strengthen the capacity of Cuban social organizations in order to achieve the respective missions. Oxfam also desires to ease the economic and personal hardship of Cuban people by seeking normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba.

Oxfam America supports a series of projects aimed at promoting food security through strengthening the capacity of rural, food-producing cooperatives, promoting sustainable technologies in agriculture, promoting the role of women in agriculture, and promoting urban agriculture by community-based organizations. Oxfam America also supports various initiatives in community development, community rehabilitation in response to disasters and improved methodologies for community based organizations. In addition, Oxfam America supports selected activities aimed at promoting exchanges, partnerships and joint collaboration between organizations and movements in the global south with Cuban organizations.

Oxfam America provides funding to seven Havana-based organizations, most of whom work at a national level. Oxfam America-supported projects are located in the city of Havana and the provinces of Havana, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Ciego deAvila and Guantanamo.

Oxfam America is grateful to a number of US-based funding foundations and the general public for support of the Cuba program. The grants budget for Oxfam America's Cuba Program is approximately 200,000 USD per annum which includes support for activities in Cuba, US-Cuba exchanges and south-south initiatives. Oxfam America neither seeks nor receives funding from the US government and related entities. In Cuba, Oxfam America works directly with the NGO community.

Oxfam America provides periodic funding support to the UN World Food Program in Cuba.

Oxfam America is part of the Oxfam International Joint Program in Cuba in which Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Belgium serve as the managing agencies for the joint program and maintain field presence in Cuba.

All of Oxfam America's activities related to Cuba conform with US regulations; Oxfam America project activities and travel in Cuba are licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Physicians For Peace

US Contact

Physicians for Peace
229 West Bute Street, Suite 900
Norfolk, VA 23510
Tel: 757-625-7569
Fax: 757-626-7680

Introduction to Physicians For Peace

Physicians For Peace exists to build peace and international friendships through medicine. It is a humanitarian organization that has conducted over 240 medical missions in approximately 32 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Mideast, and Central and South America since the early 1980s. In 2001 approximately 24 site visits or full missions will be undertaken.

In addition, Physicians For Peace builds medical self-sufficiency in target countries by arranging for foreign medical professionals to come to the U.S. for intense short-term study to hone their skills, benefiting future patients in their home countries.

Physicians For Peace in Cuba

Physicians For Peace had its first medical program in Cuba in June of 2001, primarily in Havana. Nine physicians from a variety of specialty areas contributed their time and skills to the program which included participation in the V National Pediatric Surgical Conference, The III International Congress of "The Health of Children Under 5 Years Old" and the II Congress of "The Health of the Child in the Caribbean in the Twenty-first

Century". Over 600 people attended the four-day conference, approximately 500 were Cuban nationals and the remainder were delegates from the US, Mexico, Central and South America.

The purpose of the medical program was to have participants attend and present lectures in the various sessions of the symposia, to teach in a variety of hospitals and clinics in Havana, to be ambassadors of good will, and to determine the potential for future Physcians For Peace medical programs in Cuba.

Physicians For Peace helped to sponsor the participation of a Cuban pediatrician in the Annual American Association of Pediatricians Conference in San Francisco during October of 2001. This same physician will travel to the headquarters for Physicians For Pace and give lectures at the Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia.

Currently, Physicians For Peace is still exploring the possibilities for future medical programs in Cuba, but there are no definite plans.

Stop Hunger Now

US Contact

Rev. Ray Buchanan
Stop Hunger Now
2501 Clark Ave, Suite 301
Raleigh, NC 27607
Tel: 919-839-0689
Email: crzy_snake@aol.com

Introduction to Stop Hunger Now

The mission of Stop Hunger Now is to provide the maximum amount of food and life-saving aid to the maximum number of the world's most poor and hungry in the most rapid, efficient and cost effective manner.

Stop Hunger Now in Cuba

The objectives in Cuba are to pilot feeding programs for the elderly and malnourished in coordination with Bishop Pereira Diaz of the Methodist Church in Cuba.

Stop Hunger Now will send 25,000 USD worth of food to a pilot food distribution program in the years 2001-2002. These funds will provide 2,500 meals. Stop Hunger Now will be working closely with the United Methodist Church and its current Bishop.

US Fund for UNICEF

US Contact

Program and Donor Services
US Fund for UNICEF
333 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-686-5522
Email: information@unicefusa.org

Cuba Contact

UNICEF
Calle 1ra. B No. 152-01
Esquina a 152
Reparto Náutico,
PlayaCiudad de la HabanaCuba

Introduction to US Fund for UNICEF

The US Fund for UNICEF works for the survival, protection and development of children worldwide through education, advocacy and fund-raising for UNICEF programs in over 160 developing countries and territories.

US Fund for UNICEF in Cuba

US Fund for UNICEF works in four major areas in Cuba: Health Care and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, Education, and Emergency Preparedness. The largest contribution is towards the area of health care and the related challenges of this field.

Health Care and Nutrition:

UNICEF is assisting in the reinforcement of primary health care services, including immunization coverage against the major childhood killers (diphtheria, measles, polio, tetanus, and tuberculosis), prevention and treatment of hepatitis A, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Nutrition programs will focus on the promotion of breastfeeding; and fortification and supplementation of food with vitamins to prevent anemia, iodine deficiency disorders (the leading cause of preventable mental retardation in children), and reduce the incidence of low birth weight.

To provide a major focus on early childhood development, UNICEF is providing special support to the Initiative in Cuba. In addition to providing a place for mothers and their babies to receive basic health care and nutrition support, special health issues are addressed by Baby- and Mother-Friendly Hospitals, including the reduction of infant mortality due to acute diarrheal disease, a result of ingestion of dirty water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene. UNICEF is providing oral rehydration salts for the treatment of diarrheal dehydration, as well as ensuring that mothers are educated to recognize the signs of dehydration and the importance of providing clean water and safe hygiene practices when feeding their children. Prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections in infants is also being addressed via the Baby- and Mother-Friendly Hospital Initiative.

All UNICEF health and nutrition programs are complemented by community educational activities, aimed particularly at families and supported by communication and social mobilization campaigns. UNICEF supports the production of materials for training health workers and families in recognizing and treating dangerous childhood illnesses.

Children with special needs and disabilities are receiving special support from UNICEF also. UNICEF is assisting in the production of educational and health care materials for parents, teachers and others involved in caring for children with special needs and disabilities.

Although reported incidence of HIV/AIDS is less than 1 percent in Cuba, the common perception among Cuban adolescents and youth is that they are at low risk of contracting the disease. This resulted in an increase of 33.2 percent of those at risk in 2000 as compared to 1998. UNICEF aims to provide opportunities for youth and their communities to talk openly about HIV/AIDS and learn the importance of changing dangerous behaviors and attitudes that promote the spread of the disease. UNICEF is supporting major communication and awareness programs, as well as organizing community activities to attract youth and their families to discuss HIV/AIDS in informal and fun settings, such as sporting events and other recreational activities. UNICEF is also providing special support to youth who are currently living with HIV/AIDS or must care for parents or siblings with HIV/AIDS.

Water and Sanitation:

While access to clean water and sanitation is over 80 percent in much of Cuba, many rural and peri-urban areas still lack water and sanitation facilities or facilities are inadequate due to lack of maintenance. UNICEF is supporting the improvement of water and sanitation facilities in these areas, as well as ensuring that schools have adequate access to clean water and sanitation.

Education:

UNICEF is supporting the training of teachers and the production of educational materials in order to improve the quality of education in Cuba. UNICEF programs are also assisting in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Cuba ratified in 1991. Additionally, UNICEF is supporting an initiative aimed at creating "healthy schools", which reinforces improvements in child health care by integrating health education into the school curriculum and other activities. The use of schools as another place to promote good health practices provides an additional point of communication for the communities surrounding each school. Health care education, covering issues outlined in the above Health and Nutrition section, will be addressed through the schools, as well as water and sanitation education, aimed at improving hygiene and preventing illness due to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation, such as diarrheal disease, one of the world's leading childhood killers.

Emergency Preparedness:

Given Cuba's geographic location and vulnerability to natural disasters, emergency preparedness components, including stocking of emergency supplies, are included to address each country program section.

US Fund for UNICEF works with the Government of Cuba, various Government ministries (such as Health, Education, and Sanitation), UNFPA, WFP, WHO, PAHO, UNESCO, and local NGOs including women's groups and development agencies.