Cuban Officials Reject US Humanitarian Aid Amid Hurricane Melissa Fallout

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, the U.S. government, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has offered immediate humanitarian aid directly to the Cuban people, bypassing the regime. The U.S. State Department released a guide clarifying legal exemptions that allow private donations of food, medicine, and emergency supplies to reach those affected despite the embargo. However, senior Cuban officials, including Ambassador Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios and Communist Party Secretary Roberto Morales Ojeda, have dismissed the aid offer as political manipulation, rejecting assistance they described as "begging" or "handouts," and demanding the lifting of the U.S. embargo as a precondition. This rejection has sparked outrage among many Cubans who criticize the government for prioritizing political rhetoric over the welfare of its citizens amid the crisis. The Cuban regime's stance reflects its consistent approach of using humanitarian suffering as leverage in its ongoing confrontation with the United States. Meanwhile, the U.S. affirms that aid will be delivered either directly or through local partners not controlled by the Cuban Communist Party to ensure it reaches those in need.