Bob Schwartz

I've had criticisms of the convoy, its politicization, & the simplistic, naive diagnoses of Cuba's problems from some leaders/participants. Disagreements aside, I can also respect orgs like GHP that have been sending critical medical aid for for yrs, mostly out of the spotlight.

🇨🇺 Antibiotics, insulin, asthma inhalers, and even basic painkillers are now scarce or unavailable in Cuba, a U.S.-based humanitarian group warned, as the U.S. government continues to “punish Cuba” and “strangle the Cuban economy.” Bob Schwartz, head of Global Health Partners, told CNN that the country’s health system is now “pretty much on life support,” after years of tightening U.S. sanctions. The group has sent more than $275 million in medical aid to Cuba over three decades, but Schwartz said shortages have worsened dramatically in recent months. He pointed to extreme gaps in care, including a three-year waiting list for pacemakers. “You don’t last three years,” he said. Schwartz said sanctions and Cuba’s terrorism designation block access to global banking systems, making it “almost impossible” to import medical supplies. He added that with commercial routes cut off, aid often has to be flown in by charter or shipped through limited cargo channels. He called the embargo “immoral” and warned it is “killing people,” adding humanitarian aid alone cannot sustain the system long term.

I was a member of this delegation. I’ll have more to say over the next while but a highlight for me was meeting Cuban doctors who have a completely different (and imo better) model of patient care than we do in the US but are deeply short on supplies due to the embargo 1/3

Shameful coverage by #CNN’s Shimon Prokupez, who covered the tail end of today’s #NoKings demonstration of 200,000 in #NYC from Madison Square Park. Why not a wrap up with footage from the massive protest instead of just showing signs left behind?

Props to @FedEx @FedExHelp for worst customer service by a global company! Two days, eight different reps, horrible connections, and a circular conversation with no resolution of a simple ask. It's embarrassing @Fedex!

🚨 Over 50 elected officials, labor leaders, and solidarity organizations nationwide are calling on @POTUS to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, ease Trump-era sanctions, and send humanitarian aid. It’s time to act. international.dsausa.org/cuba-solidarit…

World Central Kitchen is devastated to confirm seven members of our team have been killed in an IDF strike in Gaza. Read our full statement on the loss of our team members here: wck.org/news/gaza-team…

I am still swimming in culture shock after returning from this delegation. Cuba is a place of intense contradiction, of deep solidarity & hope but also of heartbreak and hardship. I will have so much more to say on this soon, but for now: the economic blockade of Cuba must end.

Well said Ambassador. We’ve been working under very challenging sanctions law which makes our humanitarian medical donations to #Cuba difficult and expensive. US sanctions law is killing people just as surely as bullets and bombs.

#BREAKING | The City Council of the largest city in the United States, New York City, has just approved Resolution 0285-A, which calls on the US government to lift the embargo & travel ban on Cuba as well as its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDet…

@fuckitweballet Where do I get a pair???

Just another day working for the coolest library branch within the best library system in the whole world #DClibraries

Props to @RepBowman for speaking truth to power. When does Congress break ranks with the @NRA and get guns out of our schools and off of our streets? #guncontrol

“Whenever a group of students passes by here, I tell them: ’I don’t ask that you change bc you are going to live in a capitalist country. I only ask that you not let anyone die because they don’t have the money.” Ileydis Iglesias, Director of Cuba’s Endocrinology Institute

Very proud to have @DSA in the forefront of the movement to end the embargo. #Cuba

What gives with $META? Why do they put ad restrictions on accounts with no justification and keep them on for three months? #shameful #FacebookFail

“Ichiro Girl” reuniting with Ichiro is the most wholesome thing we’ve ever seen 🥹

Did I just hear @CNN anchor @jaketapper offer to help lend a hand to the GOP’s Foreign Affairs Ranking Member Mike McCaul if he becomes Chair? Really Jake, I thought you were a reporter. #CNN

Always ready to help #Cuba, but this is an instance where an urgent and meaningful response is needed by #Washington.

Estamos en #Matanzas junto al presidente @DiazCanelB para acompañar al pueblo matancero y a las autoridades de la provincia en estos difíciles momentos. Con el apoyo del Cuerpo de Bomberos y los trabajadores de Cupet saldremos adelante. No hay espacio para el desaliento.

Cuba solicita cooperación internacional para sofocar gran incendio Cuba solicitó hoy ayuda y asesoramiento internacional para sofocar el gran incendio que sigue sin control en una base de supertanqueros de crudo en Matanzas