The International Peoples 

In a global context where wars have become—for some—an extremely lucrative business, there is an island in the Caribbean that has suffered another form of aggression for more than six decades: the economic, commercial, and financial blockade, which has intensified in recent weeks.
Its extremely serious consequences in all spheres of the daily lives of the Cuban people are well known around the world. Food, transportation, electricity, health, education, sanitation… are all facing a highly complex situation, which a delegation from the International Peoples' Assembly (IPA) has come to witness firsthand.
At a press conference this Tuesday at the Fidel Castro Ruz Center, João Pedro Stédile, of the National Directorate of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) of Brazil, explained the objectives of the working visit. First, he said, "we want to express our solidarity with the Cuban people and government."
He added that they intend to learn firsthand about the effects of Washington's sanctions and the measures being taken by the Cuban government and civil society in response. They will also gather "opinions and suggestions to take back to our countries and develop concrete actions of solidarity."
In response to Granma, Brian Becker, leader of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) in the United States, noted that, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the situation in Cuba, they had already visited the Latin American School of Medicine, where hundreds of doctors from various countries have graduated and hundreds more are currently studying.
They have also visited various hospitals, as it is known that one of the areas most affected by the blockade is healthcare. "Despite the fact that the island has a first-rate healthcare system, the Cuban people need medicines and medical supplies," he asserted.
"The cruelty of the blockade is evident in the restrictions on obtaining medicines, including in such critical cases as children with cancer," he emphasized. After completing all the planned visits, although it will be a short stay, "we will return to our countries to inform others," he said, so they can learn about the situation in Cuba.
For his part, Fred M'membe, president of the Socialist Party of Zambia, stated that they would speak not only with the country's leadership, but also with ordinary people, the people, in the streets. "Reality cannot be hidden. It's not difficult to understand what's happening once we're here," he remarked, while also recalling that the IPA has visited the archipelago on several occasions.
M'membe added that no country has had to suffer such a great and prolonged aggression as the one the Caribbean nation is experiencing. "The Cuban people do not deserve this," he declared. "The only threat Cuba represents is the kindness of its people," to whom, he insisted, "we Africans express our gratitude" for their collaboration in health, education, and the fight against colonialism. This, he said, is the moment to rise up in solidarity with Cuba, which is, before the world, a moral authority.
Among the IPA delegates are also representatives from Colombia, Italy, India, and Argentina.