Mexico Sends Aid Flotilla To Cuba With Over 20 Tons Of Critical Supplies During Fuel Crisis

A humanitarian flotilla carrying more than 20 tons of essential supplies has left Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula for Cuba, as the island faces a worsening energy crisis linked to a U.S. oil blockade.

The vessels are expected to reach Havana within days, bringing much-needed food, medicines, and basic energy equipment.

The boats departed from Progreso port in southeastern Mexico, less than 800 km (497 miles) from Havana across the Gulf of Mexico.

The main vessel, a 75-foot fishing boat named Granma 2.0, is carrying a mix of humanitarian supplies.

Volunteers spent hours loading cargo that included rice, beans, canned food, baby formula, hygiene products, medicines, and medical kits.

The shipment also includes 73 solar panels, along with batteries and flashlights to help deal with ongoing electricity shortages.

Dozens of volunteers took part, along with around 30 international participants from Latin America, Europe, and the United States.

The flotilla is part of the “Nuestra América” initiative, a non-government effort calling for global support for Cuba.

The campaign is encouraging people worldwide to send supplies by sea, air, and land to a central collection point on the island.

Organisers said support has increased in recent weeks, with more donations coming in as awareness grows.

Additional vessels are also expected to depart from Isla Mujeres, adding to the scale of the operation. Cuban officials have already confirmed that aid shipments from Europe have started arriving.

Cuba’s crisis is mainly due to reduced fuel supplies after the U.S. tightened its oil restrictions. The situation has worsened due to disruptions involving Venezuela, which has long been Cuba’s main source of oil.

As fuel supplies dropped, the country began facing regular power outages, lower industrial output, and delays in transport and logistics.

Ports and shipping operations have also been affected. Limited fuel availability has slowed vessel movements, cargo handling, and inland distribution.

References: efe, nytimes