The Honourable Melanie Joly, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A6

August 10th, 2022

RE: URGENT Request for Canadian Aid for Matanzas, Cuba Fuel Tank Facility Disaster

Dear Honourable Ministers Harjit S. Sajjan & Melanie Joly,

The Canadian Network on Cuba is making this urgent appeal to the Canadian Government to immediately send material aid in the face of the supertanker facility accident at Cuba’s main oil terminal in Matanzas, Cuba. Hundreds of Cuban firefighters and others are working in flat-out impossible conditions. More than a hundred people have been injured and hospitalized, and 17 are missing.

The Canadian Network on Cuba, comprised of 23 solidarity organizations from Victoria to Halifax, asks the Canadian government to join other countries, such as Mexico and Venezuela, who are helping Cuba at this dire time.

The illegal, cruel US blockade of Cuba has deliberately cut Cuba off from getting basic materials desperately needed for treating burn victims from this disaster, as well as extinguishing a fire of this nature and dimension.

Canada has a long history of diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba and has consistently voted at the United Nations to condemn the US Blockade against Cuba.

Now is the time to stand up and be counted by sending urgently needed medical supplies to treat the burn victims and help vulnerable people from the air pollutants created by the toxic smoke. We are less than a 4-hour flight from Cuba. Canada needs to send what is needed - Now.

Sincerely,

Samantha Hislop, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Julio Fonseca, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Co-Chairs, Canadian Network on Cuba