China announced plans to continue providing humanitarian aid to Cuba in the aftermath of Hurrican Irma.
"We are paying close attention to the situation in Cuba and their needs through our embassy in Cuba, and we are discussing more detailed plans for aid," said Zhao Gang, deputy director of the Department of Foreign Assistance at the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China at the press conference on Thursday.
China has already sent one million US dollars in cash and much-needed supplies to the devastated country along with a rescue team from the Red Cross Society of China.
China has pledged to provide Cuba with multiple-rounds of humanitarian aid to help Havana recovering from the aftermath of hurricane Irma, the worst natural disaster to hit the country in the past 20 years. 1.7 million Cubans were forced to evacuate their homes, after floods caused by the hurricane severely damaged local infrastructure.
Multiple chartered planes are carrying disaster-relief materials to Cuba, including tents, electricity generator, blankets, lamps and water pumps. The first plane is expected to arrive at Havana port on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, ships will also be used for taking the relief goods to Cuba. In mid-October, one ship fully loaded with rice will arrive, and five others will follow shortly. The Chinese government has also asked Chinese companies in Cuba, and Chinese people living in Cuba to assist in the rescue and reconstruction efforts.
"We noticed that severe earthquakes and hurricanes repeatedly hit Mexico, Dominica, Antigua, and Barbuda. The Chinese government immediately launched emergency-rescue programs to these countries as well." Added Zhao.
In the meantime, Cuban authorities are making big efforts to recover the tourism industry, the most dynamic sector of the island's economy, which was seriously hit by the devastating hurricane Irma. Following the passage of Irma, Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero toured the battered archipelago and remarked that all the damage was completely recoverable.
