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US Considering Ways to Aid Cubans

VOA News

   The United States is examining potential ways to aid the people of Cuba
   following anti-government protests this month that were the biggest on
   the island nation in decades.

   Senior administration officials who spoke to news agencies on the
   condition of anonymity said the steps under consideration include
   changes to remittances that would allow people in the United States to
   send money totheirfamily in Cuba without the Cuban government
   takingaportion.

   Other potential actions include ways to make it easier to access the
   internet, working with international organizations toprovidemore
   humanitarian aid, and increasing U.S. Embassy staff in Havana.
   Demonstrators gather outside The White House on July 17, 2021
   protesting against the Cuban government - demanding assistance from the
   Biden administration to help free Cuban citizens from oppression.

   The State Departmentreduced the number ofstaff at the embassy by more
   than halfin 2017after more than 40 American diplomats serving in Cuba
   said they suffered persistent ear pain, headaches, and problems with
   memory, concentration, balance and sleeping in 2016.The Trump
   administration said the injuries resulted from what it termed a"sonic
   attack."

   The Biden administration has notpublicly announcedany intended actions,
   but it has been conducting an ongoing review of U.S.-Cuba policies. The
   White House said Monday several officials met with a group of Cuban
   American leaders "to listen to their policy recommendations and
   concern."

   A White House statement stressed that addressing the current situation
   in Cuba "is a top priority."

   State DepartmentspokesmanNed Price told reporters Monday that the
   administration is concerned about human rights,democracyand civil
   rights.

   "That's precisely what you're seeing and what we have said in the
   mechanisms of support over the years that the United States has
   provided to the Cuban people, and it is precisely what we mean when we
   say that we will consider additional forms of support, including any
   humanitarian support for the Cuban people," Price said.

   Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and
   Reuters.

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