Havana, July 17 (RHC) -– Russia contributed one million dollars to the Havana-based office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the recovery project underway in eastern Santiago de Cuba city after the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy.

Russian Ambassador Mikhail L. Kamynin said that the action aims at joining efforts to assist the people of Santiago that were affected by the natural phenomenon in 2012 and that the Russian contribution affirms the relations of friendship between both nations, which have been deepened with the recent visit to Cuba by President Vladimir Putin.

On Wednesday, Kamynin signed a memorandum for the implementation of a program of assistance along with the UNDP resident representative in Cuba, Myrta Kaulard. The executive thanked Russia for the contribution, which she said is very useful to support the reconstruction of homes and noted that the gesture affirms the good relations between Cuba and Russia.