Cuba: Non-Sectarian Programs

Since their inception, JDC’s non-sectarian efforts in the form of the International Development Program (JDC-IDP) have been carried out in more than 60 countries by offering humanitarian aid to those who have suffered from man-made and natural disasters such as earthquakes, famine, extreme poverty, political instability, and war.

JDC-IDP addresses victims’ emergency needs and then provides longer-term rehabilitation and development assistance. Training is an essential part of those efforts, as JDC-IDP works to enhance the abilities of local partners and to ensure that the projects continue even after JDC’s involvement has ended.

Need: Cuba has been slowly recovering from the severe economic recession that began in the early 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet Union brought decades of aid to a halt. However, staple commodities continue to be rationed by the government and, in general, salaries fall short of covering the cost of food, medicine, clothing, and even simple household items.

Response: In 1991, JDC opened a pharmacy to help address a desperate demand for access to affordable medicines. Located in the Patronato synagogue in Havana, the pharmacy is one of the most active in the city, dispensing medications on a non-sectarian basis to those in greatest need.

Learn about other JDC-IDP programs.