Eighteen faith-based organizations, including FCNL, signed a letter calling on President Joe Biden to send direct humanitarian aid to Cuba and remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List.
December 9, 2024
Dear President Biden,
As national faith communities and organizations from across the United States, we write with a deep sense of urgency about the severe humanitarian crisis impacting the people of Cuba. Decades of partnership between U.S. and Cuban churches have enabled us to support Cuban communities through crises, sharing not only resources but also hope. U.S. policies, particularly the ongoing embargo and Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT), severely hinder our ability to offer meaningful support. These policies— aimed at fostering political change—have proven to be wholly ineffective in achieving their goals and, instead, are contributing to significant human suffering, including forced migration. It is vital for the U.S. government to actively support the Cuban people by sending direct humanitarian aid and removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List (SSOT).
The current humanitarian situation in Cuba is critical, with widespread shortages of food, medicine, clean water, and electricity. Recent failures in the electricity grid have left hospitals, schools, and homes without power for extended periods, endangering lives and deepening daily hardships. As faith-based organizations and denominations, we are called to help our Cuban partners during this incredibly difficult time; however, the SSOT designation and continued economic restrictions make it very difficult for us to channel aid effectively. These restrictions limit the flow of international assistance and restrict our ability to aid those enduring these unprecedented hardships.
Time is of the essence. As the window for policy change narrows, we implore your administration to take swift and decisive action by removing Cuba from the SSOT list and sending much-needed humanitarian aid. The people of Cuba can no longer afford to wait. Continuing these ineffective policies only deepens their suffering. A commitment to a renewed, humane approach is urgently needed—not only to alleviate immediate hardships but also to pave the way for lasting peace, understanding, and shared prosperity between our nations.
We offer our prayers for you and your administration and stand ready to support efforts that advance compassion, justice, and peace for our Cuban neighbors.
Sincerely,
Alliance of Baptists
American Friends Service Committee
Bautistas por la Paz – Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Church World Service
Cuba Partners Network of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.)
Disciples Center for Public Witness (Disciples of Christ)
The Episcopal Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Florida Council of Churches
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Hindus for Human Rights
Latin America Working Group
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA
Pax Christi USA
Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.)
The United Church of Christ
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
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