Cubans in US lose key online aid portal as operations cease

The online portal Envioscuba.com, which facilitated aid from Cubans in the United States to their relatives in Cuba, has ceased operations due to pressure from U.S. sanctions. The site was linked to the Grupo de Administracion Empresarial (GAESA), a military-run conglomerate that controls a significant portion of Cuba's economy. A message on the website states, "Due to reasons beyond our control, our platform can no longer provide services," while assuring users that all approved and pending orders will still be processed. Emilio Morales, president of the Havana Consulting Group, noted that the shutdown reflects a broader trend of similar portals likely closing as they are connected to GAESA. Christopher Hernandez-Roy, acting director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Americas Program, described GAESA as a major economic entity controlled by the Cuban military, which does not contribute to the state budget, exacerbating Cuba's economic challenges. The recent sanctions and loss of Venezuelan oil have further strained the Cuban government's operations.