Disarm Public Education
Disarm arranges visits by prominent Americans concerned about the human costs of the embargo. Many of these visitors – including Muhammad Ali and actor Ed Asner—have become compelling advocates for Disarm's work in Cuba. Ali and his wife Lonnie have travelled twice with Disarm, helping to deliver medical supplies for our Children's Cancer Project. Our aim is to supplement Cuba's supply of cancer medicine—so scarce that there is only enough to treat two out of every seven young cancer patients.
In broader terms, these public education efforts target Washington's policy of denying medicine to civilians in order to punish their governments. We urge that our government abide by international law and treaties that condemn the use of medicine and food as a political weapon. Disarm also works on Capitol Hill to bolster the efforts of legislators committed to ending the embargo and normalizing relations with Cuba.
Hurricane Relief
Disarm demonstrated its continued commitment to Cuba in late 2008 by providing direct relief to the nation after it was devastated by a three devastating hurricanes. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit Cuba within days of each other, causing $10 billion of damage to the country’s infrastructure, displacing millions of people and destroying homes, schools, hospitals, factories, and crops. Hurricane Paloma hit Cuba just weeks later, disrupting relief efforts in place and compounding the disaster.
With over a decade of established presence in Cuba, Disarm was able to work quickly to send urgently needed medicine and medical supplies to Cuba's badly damaged public health system. Disarm stocked two 40-foot ship containers with 12 tons of medicine and equipment and delivered them to shattered healthcare facilities in Havana, Pinar del Rio, and the Island of Youth.
This was not the first time Disarm has provided life saving hurricane relief to Cuba. In 1996 Disarm was among the first to respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Lili, sending an emergency airlift with $2.3 million worth of medicine and medical supplies. In 2002 Disarm responded to Cuba’s call for assistance in the wake of Hurricanes Isadore and Lili, and again in 2005 when Hurricane Dennis ravaged Cuba.
Disarm is providing desperately needed training, medicines and medical supplies in Nicaragua to help build the foundation for a self-sustaining public health system..
