The year 2022 has been a year full of expressions of support for Cuba

By María Josefina Arce

The year 2022 has been a year full of expressions of support for Cuba, coming from governments, personalities, people and solidarity organizations, which despite a complex international panorama, ratified that Cuba is not alone.

Essential was the support for the struggle of Cuba for the end of the blockade that the United States has maintained for sixty years. In fact, for the thirtieth time and with an overwhelming majority, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of the lifting of that genocidal and unilateral measure.

The new Cuban victory was preceded by more than seven thousand actions around the world in rejection of the hostile U.S. policy, which violates the human rights of an entire people and hinders the development of the Caribbean country.

And with us, defying the framework of laws that make up Washington's siege, was once again the Cuba-United States Friendship Caravan of the ecumenical organization Pastors for Peace, with its valuable message of love and solidarity aid.  And 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of this beautiful initiative, whose first edition dates back to 1992.

Fernando González, president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, pointed out that the actions were not only limited to the fight against the blockade, but also demanded the removal of Cuba from Washington's unilateral list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism.

A demand on which personalities from other nations also pronounced themselves, such as the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who highlighted the role of Havana in the peace talks between the insurgencies and the Colombian state.

Even former U.S. intelligence officials considered unjustified the inclusion of Cuba, which they described as a fiction created to reinforce the logic of the blockade.

And great was the solidarity after the explosion at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, the fire that affected a supertanker base in the province of Matanzas, and the damages caused in western Cuba by hurricane Ian, mainly in Pinar del Río.

González pointed out that monetary donations, containers and equipment were received from 25 countries. We cannot forget the invaluable material and personnel assistance from Mexico and Venezuela to extinguish the fire at the supertanker base.

But also throughout 2022, the support of solidarity groups from around the world was very active, such as the U.S. organization Bridges of Love, which sent medical supplies to support the country's efforts to COVID 19 and make possible the operation of various programs of the health system.

Another year in which Cuba was surrounded by friends, who extended their generous hand, who showed the world that this small Caribbean nation has the friendship and support of many in the world.