11-21-08, 10:43 am

HAVANA, Cuba, Nov 21 (acn) Venezuelan citizens and institutions have donated more than four million dollars to Cuba to help in the ongoing recovery efforts after the devastation caused by three hurricanes in recent weeks.

During a meeting with Cuban journalists in Caracas, Ruben Ramos, economic counselor at the Cuban embassy in Venezuela, said that the donation, in cash and materials, is an expression of the unselfishness, solidarity and humanist spirit of the Venezuelan people.

According to Prensa Latina news agency, Ramos explained that the donation has allowed them to buy 100 tons of powder milk, 100 tons of rice, 77 tons of pasta, 45.2 tons of sardines and 60 tons of other foodstuffs.

The Cuban official said that part of this donation is already in Cuba or on its way to Cuba and part is in Venezuelan warehouses along with 30 tons of personal hygiene products, 7,000 mattresses, 9,000 pillows, and 7,000 packages of diapers.

For his part, the trade counselor at the Cuban embassy, Octavio Martinez, said that the cash was used to buy products from Venezuelan companies with preferential prices. A total of 42,000 towels and 64,000 sets of sheets were bought.

An account has been opened for this purpose and it already has $740,000 from Venezuelan citizens and more than $900,000 from the Cuban personnel currently making their contribution in Venezuela.