1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

United States relations with Cuba have been tenuous at best for the better part of a century. While I would not lobby to put international concerns aside, I would lobby for humanitarian aid to the innocent residents of the island who are currently suffering. Cuba is experiencing a severe, multi-layered socioeconomic crisis, teetering on the brink of collapse due to acute energy shortages, natural disasters, and intense U.S. sanctions. Residents face daily 20-hour blackouts, extreme food/medicine shortages, and a collapsing infrastructure.  Anyone with an internet connection and a brain can see the results of natural disasters on our tiny neighbor. Hurricanes (Oscar, Rafael) and earthquakes (5.9–6.8 magnitude) damaged 385+ health facilities and caused widespread destruction on the island. Recovery has been slow and daunting. As a partial result of these disasters, three consecutive years of negative growth have led to 89% of households living in extreme poverty. The return of ration lines has citizens waiting for food and supplies that sometimes never materialize. Adding to that, Cuba has lost 90% of its fuel supply, leading to a near-total blackout, halted transportation, and crippled essential services. United States blockades preventing fuel from Russia to be delivered is unconscionable. The situation is characterized by Al Jazeera as a "severe humanitarian" crisis, with ongoing geopolitical tensions festering. Attempted emigration from Cuba to the United States is climbing despite the repeal of wet foot dry foot legislation, and Trump is in the process of attempting to remove protections from Cuban immigrants already living here in the U.S. WE THE PEOPLE are watching genocides all over the world right now- and our neighbors are experiencing a complete apocalypse. We have the ability to provide aid. We have the citizen support to provide aid. We have the will, the finances, and the ability to provide aid. We must insist that you bring these issues to the floor of Congress and demand that a) Trump stops the deportation of Cuban nationals, b) Trump removes the blockade preventing the movement of fuel and other goods, and c) that Trump sends assistance to the victims of this tragedy.