Starting on Saturday, the first part of the food donated by countries in solidarity with Cuba has already been distributed in this eastern Cuban province, to alleviate the difficult situation in the country due to the effect of the U.S. economic blockade and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- This first consignment consists of 240 tons of beans, which are immediately being placed in the warehouses of the Provincial Wholesale Food Company in all municipalities. Yunier Batista Jiménez, director of that entity, said that no later than August 11, the grain will be in all the food stores of the regular network for its delivery to the 522 thousand 534 consumers registered here until July 31.

About 20 trucks from the Passenger and General Cargo Transport Company (CARDINAL), and others from the Wholesale Company, will take the product to all the food stores in the territory. The rate of distribution will depend only on the availability of stevedores and means such as forklifts.

This donation will be joined by canned tuna, which will arrive in Las Tunas in the next few hours, with which the same procedure will be followed.

The Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, recently explained that all products donated to the country will be delivered free of charge to the population. Transportation and other expenses will be assumed by the State budget. The population, she specified, will have 30 days to collect the products from the food stores.

Both, in this and in the operations associated with other donations, which will continue shortly, several companies and institutions and various ministries are taking part to guarantee the fluidity and security of the process.