Flotilla Prepared in Yucatán with Medicine, Food, and Solar Panels for Cuba.
More than 11 million people face power outages on the island, while an international mission prepares humanitarian aid from Mexico.
A humanitarian flotilla bound for Cuba will depart from Yucatán in the coming days with a shipment of medicine, non-perishable food, hygiene products, and solar panels; this is part of an international solidarity initiative driven by activists, journalists, and civil society organizations.
The island is experiencing a blackout after several days of prolonged power outages in different regions of the country, a situation affecting more than 11 million Cubans. As the hours pass, the situation is impacting basic aspects of life, such as food preservation, the operation of hospitals, and communications.
Marisela Vega, representative of the Mexican delegation of Global Sumud, explained that this flotilla will depart from Yucatán on March 19th. It is comprised of people from Europe, the United States, and much of Latin America, as well as activists and journalists.
The organizers also expect the humanitarian aid to arrive in Havana this weekend, as the arrival of a cold front delayed the departure and ultimately led to an adjustment of the dates.
“The aid is based on a list provided by contacts in Cuba and includes non-perishable food items such as rice, beans, canned goods, baby food, and formula. It also includes hygiene products such as feminine hygiene products, shampoo, gauze, and basic medications,” she explained.
Nicole León of Progressive International also mentioned that the aid for Cuba includes solar panels, intended to help alleviate the lack of electricity on the Caribbean island.
“We know our aid won’t be enough to solve the situation on the entire island, but it’s an example of what can be achieved when society organizes. The panels are delivered with inverters and batteries to provide backup power during blackouts,” she added.
Meanwhile, Nicole, also an activist, specified that the convoy will carry approximately 20 tons of aid to Cuba, as those arriving by air are already bringing supplies to the island.
“We expect to arrive in two and a half to three days; the idea is to arrive on the night of March 21st, although that depends on the weather. We will likely stay there for four days, as we don’t want to create an additional burden for the country; afterward, each participant will return by plane to their country of origin,” she explained.
Could the Cuba flotilla be intercepted by the U.S.?
For Nicole León, who was also part of the flotilla to Gaza, the humanitarian aid mission to Cuba is less risky compared to the one to Gaza. However, she did not rule out potential risks for this incursion.
“There is always risk when carrying out these types of actions; in this case, we don’t consider it a particularly risky mission, since the route is much shorter, but the risk is always present. Even so, we believe we will be able to reach Cuba,” she asserted.
For her part, Marisela Vega of the Mexican delegation of Global Sumud highlighted that activist Thiago Ávila, who participated in the journey to Palestine, is part of the mission to Cuba:
“It would be unrealistic to say there is no risk; it was even difficult to find a boat willing to make the journey, due to fears of incidents. However, we believe that media visibility and public interest help protect the mission,” she concluded.
Nicole León confirmed that the Mexican government has contacted the convoy and that the support the convoy will receive with humanitarian aid to Cuba is still being determined.
Humanitarian aid to Cuba:
Basic medicines
Paracetamol and other commonly used medications
Gauze and basic medical supplies
Non-perishable food
Rice
Beans
Canned food
Baby food
Infant formula
Hygiene products
Feminine hygiene products
Shampoo
Energy equipment
Solar panels
Batteries
Power inverters
Source: Publimetro
