Two sailboats transporting humanitarian supplies from Mexico reached Havana safely on Saturday, as confirmed by the Mexican Navy. The vessels encountered delays due to adverse weather conditions and were briefly unaccounted for during their journey.
The Mexican Navy verified that the sailboats successfully docked at the Cuban capital after being monitored during their approach to the port. Following their reported disappearance on Thursday, a maritime surveillance aircraft located the sailboats on Friday, around 80 nautical miles (148 km) northwest of Cuba. The crews assured they were in good condition but faced setbacks due to unfavorable weather conditions, especially strong winds.
These two boats are part of a larger convoy aiming to deliver essential items such as food, medicine, and baby formula to Cuba, which is currently facing challenges due to restrictions on oil and supply shipments imposed by the United States. This situation has exacerbated power shortages and necessitated the state to ration services.
A representative of the Nuestra America Convoy stated, “The vessels are continuing their journey to Havana. The convoy is steadfast in its commitment to fulfill its mission of providing critical humanitarian assistance to the Cuban population.”
The sailboats went missing after departing from Mexico’s Isla Mujeres the previous Saturday and were anticipated to reach Havana between March 24 and 25. The US Coast Guard initially informed the French press agency AFP on Friday that the boats had been located but later retracted the statement, indicating that a search operation was ongoing, causing confusion.
The Nuestra America coalition, which translates to “Our America” in Spanish, comprises nearly 300 organizations from over 30 countries, including non-governmental entities, unions, political parties, and legislators. This collective has delivered around 20 tons of aid to Cuba through both air and sea routes, encompassing items like food, medicine, solar panels, and bicycles.
