Cuba
CRS in Cuba
Cuba has experienced a surge of COVID-19 cases since June and is now recording 6,400 cases a day. This increase comes amid a deteriorating economy and shortage of life-saving supplies and medicine. Health facilities and pharmacies are stretched to the limit and extremely vulnerable families are struggling to meet their most basic life needs.
CRS has stood by Caritas Cuba in emergency situations, strengthening its capacity to respond. With the help of CRS, Caritas Cuba has promoted programs to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable groups such as senior citizens; people with disabilities and their families; children, adolescents and youth and their families; and people living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, small training and cultural projects are carried out in three dioceses. All projects are supported by awareness-building and participatory approaches that bring together different actors to build an inclusive society for all Cubans without distinction.
Stats
People served: 174,565
Population: 11,147,407
Size: 42,803 sq. mi.; slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
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July 20, 2021
Families in Cuba need your help!
Cuba has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases amid a shortage of supplies and medicine.
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September 26, 2017
CRS Providing Emergency Aid to Areas Hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria
CRS is assisting survivors in the Caribbean with our partner Caritas.
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October 3, 2016
The Church Responds to Hurricane Matthew
Please support the Church's response to Hurricane Matthew as we pray, learn, act and give to those in need.
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March 22, 2016
Video: How the Church Serves the Marginalized in Cuba
The elderly, who make up 18 percent of the Cuban population, are particularly impoverished and marginalized. Caritas Cuba, with support from Catholic Relief Services, provides basic necessities like food and laundry,...
CRS' History in Cuba
CRS works with Caritas Cubana. Since its creation in 1991, Caritas Cubana and its diocesan members have become the largest, independent nongovernmental organization on the island, with more than 40 staff and a network of some 12,000 volunteers. While not enjoying official legal recognition, Caritas continues to be accepted by the Cuban government. There are Caritas programs in all 11 dioceses as well as at the national level in Havana.
Delivering more than $32 million in medical and emergency supplies for distribution to hospitals, homes for the elderly and victims of natural disasters since 1993, Catholic Relief Services has been one of Caritas Cuba's main supporters.
The Cuban Church has prioritized “reconciliation” as a key aspect of its overall pastoral plan with one component of this focusing on the relationship between the Cuban Church and the Cuban/American community. CRS, in coordination with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), collaborates on these initiatives.
CRS supports an institutional strengthening program aimed at improving the capacity of Caritas Cubana to continue and expand its humanitarian work on a national level and respond to the widespread needs of the most vulnerable. The program is designed to strengthen the formation of the Caritas staff and promote the active participation of 12,000 Caritas volunteers through training in the Social Doctrine of the Church, emergency preparation and response, and caring for the chronically ill.
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Recognition
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©2024 Catholic Relief Services228 W. Lexington St. Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3443877-435-7277[email protected]
Catholic Relief Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; Donations to CRS are tax-deductible to the full extent allowable under the law.
Catholic Relief Services eases suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.
We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas Internationalis.