From South Florida, U.S. warns Cuban government not to interfere with aid headed to island

From South Florida, U.S. officials announced a plan to send humanitarian aid to Cuba — bypassing the Cuban government and working instead through churches across the island.

The announcement was made during a press availability organized by the U.S. Department of State's South Florida hub and moderated Wednesday afternoon from Weston, Florida, as planes and ships carrying U.S. aid prepare to head to Cuba following Hurricane Melissa and amid deepening poverty on the island.

It's a plan much easier said than done.

The U.S. does not want this aid to end up in the hands of the Cuban regime, and officials said there will be consequences if it does interfere.

So, the U.S. found another way through the church and more than 1,000 pastors across Cuba, many of whom already work directly with local communities.

"There's nothing political about cans of tuna and rice and beans and pasta," Under Secretary of State for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs and Religious Freedom Jeremy Lewin South Florida-moderated briefing. "That is humanitarian aid at its core."

Lewin said they did not ask the Cuban regime if they wanted the aid. 

"It's not their aid," he said. "They're in no position to take care of their people. They're in no position to make decisions about this."

While church leaders on the island are coordinating logistics with Cuban authorities to allow the aid into the country, U.S. officials speaking from South Florida warned the regime not to interfere or divert the supplies.

"We will be watching," he said. "If they do that, then they'll be accountable to their own people who are suffering, and they'll be accountable to us. As (Secretary of State Marco Rubio) said after the tremendously successful operation to capture the narco terrorist (Nicolas) Maduro and his wife, 'don't play games with this president'."

Hurricane Melissa struck Cuba in October as a Category 5 hurricane. The U.S. quickly sent aid to other Caribbean nations, including Haiti and Jamaica, but officials said Cuba presented unique political challenges.

"The situation in Cuba is obviously more complicated politically," Lewin said. "The church is the one who's taking the lead in this."

If the effort succeeds, Lewin said they hope it could open the door to sending significantly more aid to the island.

Lewin said he would love the U.S to send over "a lot more."