HAVANA (CNN) --Cuba's Foreign Ministry on Thursday asked the United States
to temporarily lift embargoes so the island can import emergency supplies in wake of
a deadly hurricane.

The request came in response to an offer of U.S. aid following the devastating
impact of Hurricane Michelle.

"We appreciate the kind gesture especially taking into account the tense relations
between our countries," a statement from the foreign ministry said. "We do not
require the kind cooperation that has been offered but instead in an exceptional
period we ask that the U.S. government allow our government to purchase
immediately the food and raw materials for medicines needed for the reconstruction
of the country."

Havana also asked the United States to allow its ships to dock in U.S. ports to
directly pick up any goods it may purchase.

There was no immediate response from the U.S. State Department, and it was not
known if the Cuban government had made a formal request to Washington.

Cuba's request came in the midst of a 40-year American economic embargo against
the island.

Cuban President Fidel Castro's government is not allowed to receive most goods
from the United States because of the embargo, but can get food and medicine under
a special license.

Under the embargo, U.S. ships may dock in Cuba provided they also carry a special
license from the Treasury Department. Other nations' ships that have dropped
anchor in Cuban ports must also obtain a license from Treasury in order to
subsequently dock in a U.S. port, or wait six months before doing so.

In a November 6 statement, the U.S. State Department offered humanitarian
assistance to victims of the storm.

"The United States expresses its sympathy to those who suffered personal loss and
stands ready to assist those in the region who have been hardest hit by this natural
calamity," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "The United States is
prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to those most affected by this terrible
disaster, as we have already done for Honduras."

Boucher clarified the U.S. aid offer a day later in a Wednesday press briefing, saying
the United States was ready to provide assistance as long as it can be done "in a way
that ensures that the Cuban people will benefit, not the Castro regime."

And again Thursday Boucher said, "If we can be of assistance in helping them
recover from the hurricane, we'd offer assistance through international and other
intermediaries to ensure the Cuban people benefit and not the government."

Michelle made landfall in Cuba last Sunday as a powerful Category Four storm with
winds of 135 mph, killing five people before crossing into the Florida Straits. The
storm caused severe damage in eight provinces and Isle of Youth, areas that account
for over 45 percent of the country's land mass and 53 percent of the population,
Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage said on national TV.

The high winds devastated the country's telecommunications system, knocking out
Cuba's main communications tower, disrupting phone service. Michelle also caused
extensive damage to the country's electrical infrastructure and wiped out tens of
thousands of homes.

Before making landfall in Cuba, Hurricane Michelle took 12 lives in Honduras,
Nicaragua and Jamaica.