Humanitarian aid gets through

Regarding the recent Opinion page article "Cuba's Citizens Suffer from US Blockade," June 30: The author's assertion that the United States embargo against Cuba denies the nation access to critical food and medical supplies belies the US policy of exempting donations of humanitarian aid.

Many tons of such supplies are provided annually by US donors. The US government places only two significant restrictions on humanitarian aid to Cuba: The recipients must be private citizens or nongovernmental organizations, and the Castro regime must not be able to use such aid in the violation of human rights.

The Castro regime's profiteering schemes are the impediment to sufficient private humanitarian aid for Cuban citizens. Steven D. Swearingen, Miami

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