Summary
The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 encourages the donation of humanitarian goods to the people of Cuba, including medicine, food, and clothing. Since 1992, the U.S. has been the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to Cuba, and has licensed more than $227 million in humanitarian donations of medicines and medical equipment. Humanitarian assistance has been distributed throughout the island, including to medical clinics and hospitals.

Humanitarian Flights
In response to Pope John Paul's call for the world to open to Cuba, on March 20, 1998, President Clinton announced his decision to resume licensing of direct cargo flights for humanitarian shipments going to Cuba. This was done in continuance of the U.S. government’s ongoing policy of support for the Cuban people.

·    U.S. Customs regulations currently require flights to Cuba to undergo Customs inspections in Miami, New York, or Los Angeles.

·    All humanitarian exports going to Cuba are subject to Department of Commerce licensing procedures. License exemptions are granted for certain categories of humanitarian exports.

·    Individuals wishing to accompany a humanitarian shipment must obtain a license from the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Additional information on export licensing of aircraft and humanitarian shipments is available from The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) at (202) 482-4252 or on its website at http://www.bxa.doc.gov

Remittances
One of the most important sources of medicines in Cuba today is from the large volume of gift packages sent to Cuban nationals by organizations and individuals living abroad, especially in the U.S. In-kind and cash remittances are estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

On January 5, 1999, President Clinton announced his decision to expand legal remittances to the Cuban people. Under a general license, any U.S. resident is authorized to send up to $300 each quarter of the year to any Cuban family. This expansion of remittances beyond close family members of Cuban-Americans will allow other Cubans to meet the basic necessities of life for their families, and will reduce their dependence on the Cuban government for assistance.

·     Senior level Cuban government and Communist party officials are excluded from being recipients except when the remittances are from close relatives.

·     U.S. citizens and non-governmental organizations will be licensed, on a case-by-case basis, to send larger remittances to entities in Cuba that are independent of the Cuban government.

·     A licensed traveler to Cuba may carry remittances totaling no more than $300 per trip, regardless of the number of people to receive funds. Children under 18 years of age are prohibited from carrying remittances.

Additional information on remittances, including licensed remittance carriers, is available through OFAC at (202) 622-2480.

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