BBC
Mundo. Thursday, 8 November, 2001, 04:33 GMT
The United States has offered to help Cuba recover from the devastating
effects of Hurricane Michelle, despite a 40-year American economic embargo
against the island.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the Washington was prepared
to give direct assistance to the Cuban people as long the aid did not benefit
the communist government.
Mr Boucher said that in the past President Fidel Castro's government had
rejected offers of humanitarian assistance.
The Cuban authorities are still struggling to clean up after the country's
worst hurricane in more than 50 years battered the island earlier this week,
killing five people and destroying tens of thousands of homes.
'Direct aid'
With gusts of up to 200km/h (125mph), Hurricane Michelle caused extensive
damage to Cuba's electricity infrastructure, ruined crops and left many
communities unreachable by car or telephone.
The US State Department said its aim was to provide aid directly to those
affected by the devastating storms.
Mr Boucher said the US was prepared to do so through "appropriate
international and other intermediaries in a way that ensures the Cuban people
benefit, not the Castro regime".
The official recalled that during a drought in eastern Cuba in 1998, Havana
had rejected a US offer to deliver food through the UN World Food Programme.
Earlier this week, President Castro said his country had the necessary
reserves to finance the recovery.
Venezuela has already sent a shipment of humanitarian aid, with food, tents
and power generators.
And, the German ambassador in Havana also promised to donate $70,000 worth
of baby food and medicine immediately, to be followed by more emergency relief
later | 
