Cuban officials urge U.S. to lift embargo

(CNN) - Cuban officials on Saturday urged the United States to loosen the decades-old trade embargo on the Communist-ruled island in the wake of deadly flooding caused by powerful storms.

A statement written by the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Cuban officials acknowledged that the U.S. government has recently pledged to give humanitarian aid to victims of the severe flooding.

But "if the government of the United States is really willing to cooperate with the Cuban people in face of the tragedy of the hurricane, it is requested to allow the sale to Cuba of those materials considered indispensable and to suspend the restrictions that prevent U.S. companies from offering private commercial credits to our country for the purchase of food in the United States," the statement said.

Hurricane Ike, a dangerous Category 4 storm with 135 mph winds neared Cuba Saturday.

Cuba has already been hit by Hurricane Gustav in recent weeks.