Namibia raises N$700 000 for Cuba aid drive

Namibians have raised more than N$700 000 in less than two months to support humanitarian relief efforts in Cuba, with organisers now preparing to procure and ship urgently needed medical supplies to the Caribbean island.

The National Solidarity Campaign with Cuba has collected N$700 093 since its launch on 22 April.

Campaign chairperson, Helmut Angula, said the initiative was established in response to worsening humanitarian conditions in Cuba, which organisers attribute to decades-long economic sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by the United States.

“The response from the Namibian people has been inspiring and demonstrates the enduring bonds of solidarity and friendship between Namibia and Cuba,” Angula said during a media briefing in Windhoek on Thursday.

Consultations with Cuban partners identified the country's healthcare sector as the most urgent area requiring support.

Angula said shortages of medicines, medical consumables and equipment continue to affect healthcare facilities across Cuba, with vulnerable groups such as children and patients requiring specialised treatment among the hardest hit.

“Our immediate focus is to ensure that life-saving medical supplies reach those who need them most,” Angula said.

The campaign was launched against the backdrop of longstanding political and historical ties between Namibia and Cuba.

Angula said many Namibians continue to remember Cuba's contribution to the liberation struggles of Southern Africa, including its military involvement alongside Angolan and Namibian liberation forces during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and its support following the Cassinga massacre in 1978.

He also highlighted Cuba's role in educating Namibian children during the liberation struggle and providing technical experts to Namibia after independence.

“The people of Namibia have benefitted and continue to benefit from the generosity of the Cuban people," he said.

To coordinate the initiative, the committee established four sub-committees focusing on fundraising, public relations, mobilisation and logistics.

While organisers welcomed the N$700 000 raised so far, they stressed that the campaign remains far from complete.

“Considering the gravity of the situation in Cuba, we need much more,” Angula said.

He emphasised that the campaign is not intended as a once-off intervention but forms part of an ongoing humanitarian effort.