US sends first part of $100 million aid package to Cuba

The United States said on Tuesday that it was sending the first part of a $100 million aid package to Cuba as the island faces a deep economic crisis under pressure from Washington.

The State Department said a plane carrying pre-packaged food and hygiene kits for up to 700 Cuban families was due to leave from Miami. It said the aid would be delivered directly by the Catholic church, bypassing Cuba's communist government to prevent what it described as any chance of regime diversion or theft.

Washington previously worked with Catholic intermediaries to deliver $9 million in aid to Cuba after parts of the island were badly affected by Hurricane Melissa.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposed the $100 million package in May as the United States increased its pressure campaign against Cuba's communist leadership. The report said that campaign has included a sharp increase in sanctions, an effective oil blockade and criminal charges against former president Raul Castro.

The oil blockade has led to a severe fuel shortage and contributed to several nationwide blackouts in recent weeks. President Donald Trump has said Cuba's leadership could be his next target after the January military option that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a key ally of Cuba, from power.