The U.S. government on Tuesday announced a fourth unconditional offer of humanitarian assistance to Cuba worth more than $6 million to help those suffering after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike tore through the country, AP reported.
The offer was presented to the Cuban government on Sept. 19, after three previous offers had been refused.
"We have made some very important historic and generous offers to try to help the people of Cuba after these two hurricanes," Henrietta Fore, administrator of U.S. Agency for International Development, told reporters in New York.
The $6.3 million in aid would include humanitarian assistance and shelter items, such as lumber, roofing, sheeting, tools and nails.
Thomas Shannon, assistant secretary of state for Western hemisphere affairs, said the offer was unprecedented in terms of its size and "also in terms of our willingness to turn over these items directly to the government."
"We recognize the degree of the destruction and damage done by this hurricane," and so "we're prepared to work directly with the Cuban government to address the needs of the Cuban people," Shannon said.
"We have as yet, not received a yes answer but we are hoping this most recent offer," will be accepted, Fore said.
Gustav and Ike roared through the island eight days apart in late August and early September, killing seven Cubans and damaging nearly half a million homes, even while some Cubans forced into temporary, "in-transit" shelter by previous storms have waited years ї even decades ї for new places to live.
USAID estimated this new offer of aid would would benefit up to 48,000 Cubans, according to a statement released by the organization.
