Havana, Cuba -

Cuba, its economy in tatters, has asked for help from the World Food Programme to provide powdered milk to children, state media said Monday.

In the early days of communism in Cuba, Fidel Castro had pledged that every child under seven would have a liter of subsidized milk every day.

For decades, they did -- but today, many go without as the country battles its worst economic crisis in decades due to the coronavirus pandemic, tightening of US sanctions in recent years, and structural weaknesses.

"Cuba has requested the assistance of the WFP for the purchase of milk powder to guarantee supply to Cuban children" aged up to six years of age, the Cubadebate website said, citing a "complicated economic context."

As a result, it added, 375 tons of milk powder will arrive in Cuba in the coming days.

In February, authorities in Havana acknowledged they were not able to provide all the milk usually made available to the country's children through the "libreta" -- a ration book with which one can buy staples at a subsidized price.

They also admitted "financial and logistical constraints" for wheat and flour obtained through the "libreta."

According to official estimates, the Cuban economy shrank by two percent in 2023, while inflation reached 30 percent. Independent experts say this is likely an underestimation.

The country, which has seen a historic wave of emigration in recent years, is also finding it increasingly difficult to produce and import basic foodstuffs. Official data shows that agricultural production fell by 35 percent between 2019 and 2023.

And in September, the government said it was now importing "almost 100 percent" or ration book staples even as Cubans deal with chronic shortages of fuel and other basics.

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© Agence France-Presse