United Nations and Cuba hand in hand for sustainable development

Havana, Jun 24 (RHC) The United Nations System in Cuba has among its main objectives to accompany socio-economic transformations because of their importance for the country, according to resident coordinator Francisco Pichón.

This is one of the priorities outlined in the Cuban context for the joint work between the government and the agencies of the United Nations (UN) on the island, said the representative to a question from Prensa Latina.

During a tour of the western province of Pinar del Río, one of the most affected by meteorological phenomena, Pichón insisted on the support from the UN for the priorities identified by the nation as part of the framework program established from 2020 to 2024.

Sustainable development, with investments in different areas, and support for disaster response are fundamental aspects of the UN agenda in Cuba.

In 2022, the nation was affected by Hurricane Ian and the action of the United Nations System was an important part of the recovery.

Several actions after the passage of Ian in Pinar del Rio confirm the efforts of agencies such as the United Nations Development Program, the Population Fund (UNFPA), the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Food Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), among others.

This allowed for strengthening the work of the Tierra Brava farm, in the municipality of Los Palacios, now equipped with new technology to irrigate crops, and brought new equipment for the care of women and children to the Abel Santamaría hospital in the city of Pinar del Río.

It also reinforced the supply of grains, rice, and oil to the most vulnerable populations in three delivery cycles to date and promotes actions to repair the House of Culture of the Viñales municipality, included in the UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity list.

However, the work of the United Nations in Cuba also faces the consequences of the restrictions of the U.S. blockade.

The Cuban state focuses its resources on the SDGs, however, the context is quite restricted in terms of being able to generate funding to support many of these programs, he insisted.

Regarding the future of the framework program after 2024, the resident coordinator recalled as one of the priorities the transformations of the country's economic and social model and the new economic actors. (Source: Prensa Latina).